STS 117

Originally uploaded by HatHead Rickenbacker.

I meant to post this earlier, along with a ton of things I meant to post. I followed the NASA STS 117 shuttle mission to the International Space Station live from inside Second Life. The ultimate in reality television with cameras everywhere and radio chatter, I really felt part of the mission.

Pictured here some breathtaking footage - the most expensive ever shot no doubt - of the shuttle doing a flip-over for visual inspection. I was little emotional as NASA turned off the seatbelt sign and the 2 crews finally met face to face, after days of the shuttle chasing and matching the station’s orbit around the Earth.

It was very impressive to see the 15 tonne solar panels be literally bolted on by a spacewalker, wielding a power tool with nothing but his boots between him and several hundred miles down; all while speeding around the planet at thousands of kilometers an hour. The mission was complete with high drama as a key station computer failed while a spacewalk repaired damage to a thermal blanket.

Woman of the Year should certainly go to Sunita Williams, who set a new record for a woman in space, logged over 29 hours on 4 spacewalks, installed key station components and performed science experiments. Suni responded to questions about returning to Earth saying she wanted to walk on the beach with her dog. It must be quite a feeling to look up at the stars after whizzing around looking down at the planet for 6 months.

I could have watched this without being inside Second Life but then people wouldn’t have dropped in and the fun of sharing an experience would have been lost. I hope one day we can instant message the mission crew with lot’s of ‘wooties!’ and ‘yays’. NASA offers up a free Second Life friendly QuickTime feed 24/7 - so enjoy!