Far Out!
The 39th and final flight of Space Shuttle Discovery is currently in outer space and has an extended family member on board, my sister Trish’s brother-in-law astronaut Stephen Bowen, pictured here floating through the shuttle.
All I can think about when I look at these pictures, sent by Stephen to his wife, is Peter Pan, Wendy and her brothers flying to Neverland.
The 11 day mission is to deliver supplies and a humanoid robot to the international space station. From the looks of this picture, I guess they are managing get some work done in spite of the fact that there is no gravity and everything (including themselves) is flying around.
I don’t know why this female astronaut is examining a fellow astronaut’s eye, but I like the way her ponytail flies.
This is Stephen’s 3rd trip in outer space. I guess he (pictured left) and others are nipping at the oxygen.
Stephen went from the depths of the Arctic Ocean as submarine officer to outer space as a NASA astronaut. He was my escort at Trish’s 1991wedding. Back then, we joked about my being a Peace Activist Bridesmaid to his Naval Officer Groomsman. My sister Trish and other family members were interviewed on launch day HERE.
In the fall of 2008 I posted about Stephen’s trip on Space Shuttle Endeavor for what was called by the press “space station home improvements.” You can read that post HERE. NASA officially retires its space shuttle program this summer.
March 4th, 2011 2:12 pm
neato. we watched it take off. such a small dot from here.
March 4th, 2011 2:25 pm
Hey Colly dolly. Pictures sure do speak, don’t they?
March 4th, 2011 6:40 pm
Colleen, You should take a screen shot of this post. It looks as though Steve is looking directly at you.
March 4th, 2011 7:20 pm
You mean a screen saver? I don’t even know how to do that. Which shot do you think he looks like he’s looking right at me? The gas mask?
March 4th, 2011 7:37 pm
No, not that one.
The first/top photo of him looking out from ??? that … whatever it is.
He looks as though he is smiling over at you sitting there with your Irish shamrock hat (under the “about” photo).
March 4th, 2011 7:41 pm
Oh, now I see it. I wasn’t looking at the photo of me. Cool!
March 4th, 2011 8:04 pm
Great blog post Coll! These pictures that Steve sent from space are so high def. aren’t they? Well, the landing is now postponed until Wednesday so we are bound to have so more beautiful pictures. I like Kathy’s comment and I agree how he does look like he’s looking at you and smiling at your picture. Imagine what it feels like to be weightless!!??!!! No wonder he is smiling so much!
March 4th, 2011 8:11 pm
I would so very much love to see the stars from their vantage point…. how magnificent is God’s creation!
March 4th, 2011 10:32 pm
Looks like a hilariously fun adventure. As it should be. To take those risks and do that work–fun is in order.
March 5th, 2011 9:40 am
I am sure that I would have nausea the whole time…glad it is them and not I.
March 5th, 2011 12:07 pm
I’m kind of sad that the shuttle program will end, but hopefully our space exploration won’t. these photos are very cool Colleen. I love the second one. lucky you to have an astronaut in the family – you can hear about all that goes on up there. I’m curious what zero gravity feels like too, but don’t think I’ll ever find out. have a great weekend. loved this post.
March 5th, 2011 4:38 pm
I am not too happy it is ending either…..I wonder why? The pictures are fantastic!
March 6th, 2011 4:43 am
That second picture absolutely captures the Peter Pan moment.
I am loving the female astronaut’s ponytail. So fun!
And Kathy has a great eye up there. I hope you got your screenshot.
I feel so fancy now, because I “know” someone who has an “inside” connection. hehe
March 6th, 2011 12:38 pm
[…] the outer space photos of yesterday’s post to the outasight shots of Floyd’s second annual Mardi Gras […]
March 9th, 2011 9:21 am
Neat, Colleen! I just saw “Apollo 13” for the first time the other night!
Wendy