Shuttle
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,130
Likes: 2
From: Dallas, Texas
St. Jude Donor '06, '07, '13, '15
Shuttle
I just watched the Suttle Discovery Land. No matter how many times I see these landings I am still amazed and proud of our American technolgy.
I also included the C6 Corvette and all that are involved in the building of this fine auto, without which we would not have this forum and the fond memories of our Vette's.
On another note, I think that GM should donate a C6 to each of the shuttle pilots in appreciation of their undying efforts.
Cheers, BiLL
I also included the C6 Corvette and all that are involved in the building of this fine auto, without which we would not have this forum and the fond memories of our Vette's.
On another note, I think that GM should donate a C6 to each of the shuttle pilots in appreciation of their undying efforts.
Cheers, BiLL
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,210
Likes: 9
From: CA
Originally Posted by bh747
I just watched the Suttle Discovery Land. No matter how many times I see these landings I am still amazed and proud of our American technolgy.
I also included the C6 Corvette and all that are involved in the building of this fine auto, without which we would not have this forum and the fond memories of our Vette's.
On another note, I think that GM should donate a C6 to each of the shuttle pilots in appreciation of their undying efforts.
Cheers, BiLL
I also included the C6 Corvette and all that are involved in the building of this fine auto, without which we would not have this forum and the fond memories of our Vette's.
On another note, I think that GM should donate a C6 to each of the shuttle pilots in appreciation of their undying efforts.
Cheers, BiLL
One thing will never change, America will always lead in technology.
The AstroVette
The AstroVette an astronaut's Corvette from the beginning of the Space Age
http://www.vetteweb.com/features/vet1101_astrovette/
Here is Grissoms Vette.....
http://www.gusgrissomcorvette.com/
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 757
Likes: 2
From: Lake Worth Florida
Originally Posted by bh747
I just watched the Suttle Discovery Land. No matter how many times I see these landings I am still amazed and proud of our American technolgy.
I also included the C6 Corvette and all that are involved in the building of this fine auto, without which we would not have this forum and the fond memories of our Vette's.
On another note, I think that GM should donate a C6 to each of the shuttle pilots in appreciation of their undying efforts.
Cheers, BiLL
I also included the C6 Corvette and all that are involved in the building of this fine auto, without which we would not have this forum and the fond memories of our Vette's.
On another note, I think that GM should donate a C6 to each of the shuttle pilots in appreciation of their undying efforts.
Cheers, BiLL
when they showed the "Heads Up Display" shot coming in.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,210
Likes: 9
From: CA
NCOA TALKS TO THE SPACE STATION
On February 21, NCOA had the honor of being connected to the International Space Station, currently orbiting 200 miles above the planet and traveling at 5 miles per second. The reason? Its commander, Bill McArthur, is a Corvette owner and serious car guy who, among many other things, is a member of NCOA. In fact, NASA emails the newsletter to him while in orbit. McArthur is the Commander and ISS Science Officer on the Expedition-12 crew, which was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on September 30, 2005 aboard a Soyuz TMA spacecraft and docked with the space station on October 3, 2005. McArthur will live and work aboard the International Space Station on a six-month tour of duty.
Bill McArthur graduated from West Point in June 1973 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Following a tour with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, he entered the U.S. Army Aviation School in 1975. He was the top graduate of his flight class and was designated an Army aviator in June 1976. He subsequently served as an aeroscout team leader and brigade aviation section commander with the 2nd Infantry Division in the Republic of Korea. In 1978 he was assigned to the 24th Combat Aviation Battalion in Savannah, Georgia, where he served as a company commander, platoon leader, and operations officer. After completing studies at Georgia Tech, he was assigned to the Department of Mechanics at West Point as an assistant professor. In June 1987, he graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School and was designated an experimental test pilot. Other military schools completed include the Army Parachutist Course, the Jumpmaster Course, and the Command and General Staff Officers’ Course. McArthur retired from the Army in 2001 after logging over 4500 flight hours in 39 different aircraft.
McArthur was assigned to NASA at the Johnson Space Center in August 1987 as a Space Shuttle vehicle integration test engineer. Duties involved engineering liaison for launch and landing operations of the Space Shuttle. He was actively involved in the integrated test of the flight control system for each Orbiter for its return to flight and was a member of the Emergency Escape and Rescue Working Group.
Selected by NASA in January 1990, McArthur became an astronaut in July 1991. Since then, McArthur has held various assignments within the Astronaut Office including: working issues relating to the solid rocket booster, redesigned solid rocket motor, and the advanced solid rocket motor. He served as Chief of the Astronaut Office Flight Support Branch, supervising astronaut support of the Mission Control Center, prelaunch Space Shuttle processing, and launch and landing operations. McArthur also served as Director of Operations, Russia, overseeing training activities for astronauts in Star City. A veteran of three space flights, McArthur has logged 35 days, 2 hours, 25 minutes and 10 seconds in space, including 13 hours and 16 minutes of EVA time in two space walks. McArthur served on the Expedition-10 backup crew.
The Interview
NCOA's own Les Jackson and fellow Cruise Control Radio co-host Fred Staab were connected to Commander McArthur by NASA's Houston Control at 4:05 EST and were able to talk with Bill for slightly over an hour. During that time the Space Station traveled eastward from 1000 miles off the coast of Chile, over the South American continent, across the Atlantic over Venice, over India and southern Russia to Nepal, down to the southern tip of New Zealand and over the eastern shore of Australia.
By anyone's estimation, that's Fast! Here are some of the discussions:
NCOA: "Bill, on behalf of all car lovers and Corvette owners in particular, we want to thank you for talking with us from space. Everyone wants to know which Corvette you own, of course."
Bill: "It's my pleasure to talk with you today. I actually own a 2002 Convertible that my wife talked me into buying after my 50th birthday. I wanted one since high school and almost bought a '73 when I graduated from West Point, but circumstances prevented it. My 2002 is White with a Tan interior and I love it. I'm grateful to my wife for talking me into getting something for myself, after all the years of sacrificing for the family."
NCOA: “Do you think your science background helps you understand the driving dynamics of the car or any car for that matter?”
Bill: In actuality by my education, I’m an engineer. Engineers are people who just figure out what to do with science, what I find is having that kind of background, in my opinion provides some insight into anything that is mechanical, you really understand the difference between static and dynamic friction and weight distributions and how those things can affect an object in motion. I think it helps whether driving a car or flying an airplane or by golly putting a space suit on and going outside.
NCOA: "How would you compare the acceleration of your Corvette with that of the Space Shuttle?"
Bill: "It's pretty close to the same feeling, but the Shuttle lasts about 8 minutes instead of a few seconds. We pull 2 G's in the Shuttle takeoff and it's a thrill.
NCOA: "Where are you right now in the space station?"
Bill: "I'm standing on the ceiling of the craft right now, but I'm moving to the side wall to look out a porthole and down to the earth."
NCOA: "Wow! You astronauts are the great icons of American society and everyone looks up to you. We have noted for many years that a large number of astronauts drove Corvettes. There are photos of the Apollo teams from the late 60s and they are standing next to new Corvettes. Is there something that attracts guys like you to them other than the performance?"
Bill: "Well, you know that the space program and military aviation have always been an all-American thing. You look at people who ride on rockets and you know they like to ride fast and you know with a Corvette you don’t even have to drive fast because people know you can. There is a lot power there and you can feel that you have control of it. I feel that’s the same thing people enjoy about fast airplanes and big rockets.”
NCOA: “Bill growing up did you use to pull cars apart and work on cars?”
Bill: “I used to. I haven’t done it in quite a few years though. But I’ve always enjoyed taking something mechanical apart. And then seeing if when I put it back together, if I had any pieces left over or not.”
NCOA: "Is your Corvette automatic or manual?"
Bill: "I can't believe you even have to ask that question!"
NCOA: “I thought maybe your wife was not used to shifting. And if you let your wife drive it.”
Bill: “I have begged my wife to drive it, she has adamantly refused to learn to drive a stick shift. I have two daughters. They both can drive a stick very very well. My younger daughter is living at home while am gone. To sort of take care of Mom and that sort of thing. Of course her primary job is to take care of mom and her secondary responsibility is taking care of the Corvette. I get reports from people back in the neighborhood periodically about seeing Meg out driving with the Corvette. They are really worried she’s not going to give it back to me when I come home.”
NCOA: "We would be lacking in responsibility not to address some of your comments to the young people listening to this chat. What would you like to say to them?"
Bill: "You're right about that, Les and Fred. You know, we're doing all this right now for the future. The knowledge and experience we gain will further the cause of mankind in general. To the young people today all I can say is to let your imagination run wild. Ask yourself what you'd like to be doing in 15-20 years and start working toward it. Think and dream large and don't be afraid to stumble and fail at something."
NCOA: "Well said, Bill.
Bill: "I’d like to thank you guys for spending a little time with us up here. It’s always nice to have guest on board the international space station. And you two are some of the favorites I’ve had up here."
NCOA: "It's our pleasure, Bill. Houston, over and out…"
On February 21, NCOA had the honor of being connected to the International Space Station, currently orbiting 200 miles above the planet and traveling at 5 miles per second. The reason? Its commander, Bill McArthur, is a Corvette owner and serious car guy who, among many other things, is a member of NCOA. In fact, NASA emails the newsletter to him while in orbit. McArthur is the Commander and ISS Science Officer on the Expedition-12 crew, which was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on September 30, 2005 aboard a Soyuz TMA spacecraft and docked with the space station on October 3, 2005. McArthur will live and work aboard the International Space Station on a six-month tour of duty.
Bill McArthur graduated from West Point in June 1973 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Following a tour with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, he entered the U.S. Army Aviation School in 1975. He was the top graduate of his flight class and was designated an Army aviator in June 1976. He subsequently served as an aeroscout team leader and brigade aviation section commander with the 2nd Infantry Division in the Republic of Korea. In 1978 he was assigned to the 24th Combat Aviation Battalion in Savannah, Georgia, where he served as a company commander, platoon leader, and operations officer. After completing studies at Georgia Tech, he was assigned to the Department of Mechanics at West Point as an assistant professor. In June 1987, he graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School and was designated an experimental test pilot. Other military schools completed include the Army Parachutist Course, the Jumpmaster Course, and the Command and General Staff Officers’ Course. McArthur retired from the Army in 2001 after logging over 4500 flight hours in 39 different aircraft.
McArthur was assigned to NASA at the Johnson Space Center in August 1987 as a Space Shuttle vehicle integration test engineer. Duties involved engineering liaison for launch and landing operations of the Space Shuttle. He was actively involved in the integrated test of the flight control system for each Orbiter for its return to flight and was a member of the Emergency Escape and Rescue Working Group.
Selected by NASA in January 1990, McArthur became an astronaut in July 1991. Since then, McArthur has held various assignments within the Astronaut Office including: working issues relating to the solid rocket booster, redesigned solid rocket motor, and the advanced solid rocket motor. He served as Chief of the Astronaut Office Flight Support Branch, supervising astronaut support of the Mission Control Center, prelaunch Space Shuttle processing, and launch and landing operations. McArthur also served as Director of Operations, Russia, overseeing training activities for astronauts in Star City. A veteran of three space flights, McArthur has logged 35 days, 2 hours, 25 minutes and 10 seconds in space, including 13 hours and 16 minutes of EVA time in two space walks. McArthur served on the Expedition-10 backup crew.
The Interview
NCOA's own Les Jackson and fellow Cruise Control Radio co-host Fred Staab were connected to Commander McArthur by NASA's Houston Control at 4:05 EST and were able to talk with Bill for slightly over an hour. During that time the Space Station traveled eastward from 1000 miles off the coast of Chile, over the South American continent, across the Atlantic over Venice, over India and southern Russia to Nepal, down to the southern tip of New Zealand and over the eastern shore of Australia.
By anyone's estimation, that's Fast! Here are some of the discussions:
NCOA: "Bill, on behalf of all car lovers and Corvette owners in particular, we want to thank you for talking with us from space. Everyone wants to know which Corvette you own, of course."
Bill: "It's my pleasure to talk with you today. I actually own a 2002 Convertible that my wife talked me into buying after my 50th birthday. I wanted one since high school and almost bought a '73 when I graduated from West Point, but circumstances prevented it. My 2002 is White with a Tan interior and I love it. I'm grateful to my wife for talking me into getting something for myself, after all the years of sacrificing for the family."
NCOA: “Do you think your science background helps you understand the driving dynamics of the car or any car for that matter?”
Bill: In actuality by my education, I’m an engineer. Engineers are people who just figure out what to do with science, what I find is having that kind of background, in my opinion provides some insight into anything that is mechanical, you really understand the difference between static and dynamic friction and weight distributions and how those things can affect an object in motion. I think it helps whether driving a car or flying an airplane or by golly putting a space suit on and going outside.
NCOA: "How would you compare the acceleration of your Corvette with that of the Space Shuttle?"
Bill: "It's pretty close to the same feeling, but the Shuttle lasts about 8 minutes instead of a few seconds. We pull 2 G's in the Shuttle takeoff and it's a thrill.
NCOA: "Where are you right now in the space station?"
Bill: "I'm standing on the ceiling of the craft right now, but I'm moving to the side wall to look out a porthole and down to the earth."
NCOA: "Wow! You astronauts are the great icons of American society and everyone looks up to you. We have noted for many years that a large number of astronauts drove Corvettes. There are photos of the Apollo teams from the late 60s and they are standing next to new Corvettes. Is there something that attracts guys like you to them other than the performance?"
Bill: "Well, you know that the space program and military aviation have always been an all-American thing. You look at people who ride on rockets and you know they like to ride fast and you know with a Corvette you don’t even have to drive fast because people know you can. There is a lot power there and you can feel that you have control of it. I feel that’s the same thing people enjoy about fast airplanes and big rockets.”
NCOA: “Bill growing up did you use to pull cars apart and work on cars?”
Bill: “I used to. I haven’t done it in quite a few years though. But I’ve always enjoyed taking something mechanical apart. And then seeing if when I put it back together, if I had any pieces left over or not.”
NCOA: "Is your Corvette automatic or manual?"
Bill: "I can't believe you even have to ask that question!"
NCOA: “I thought maybe your wife was not used to shifting. And if you let your wife drive it.”
Bill: “I have begged my wife to drive it, she has adamantly refused to learn to drive a stick shift. I have two daughters. They both can drive a stick very very well. My younger daughter is living at home while am gone. To sort of take care of Mom and that sort of thing. Of course her primary job is to take care of mom and her secondary responsibility is taking care of the Corvette. I get reports from people back in the neighborhood periodically about seeing Meg out driving with the Corvette. They are really worried she’s not going to give it back to me when I come home.”
NCOA: "We would be lacking in responsibility not to address some of your comments to the young people listening to this chat. What would you like to say to them?"
Bill: "You're right about that, Les and Fred. You know, we're doing all this right now for the future. The knowledge and experience we gain will further the cause of mankind in general. To the young people today all I can say is to let your imagination run wild. Ask yourself what you'd like to be doing in 15-20 years and start working toward it. Think and dream large and don't be afraid to stumble and fail at something."
NCOA: "Well said, Bill.
Bill: "I’d like to thank you guys for spending a little time with us up here. It’s always nice to have guest on board the international space station. And you two are some of the favorites I’ve had up here."
NCOA: "It's our pleasure, Bill. Houston, over and out…"
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 12,884
Likes: 760
From: Huntsville AL
I work at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL. Today was my first time to watch a Shuttle land from there. It was way cool. We all gathered in a conference room and watched it live on TV.
Then, after the landing and we were all leaving the room, the cleaning lady happened to be standing out in the hall. She said "Good job, guys." I had to stick my chest out a little bit. . .
Actually, I'm working on the next rocket to go to the moon, not the Shuttle. It felt good anyhow.
Then, after the landing and we were all leaving the room, the cleaning lady happened to be standing out in the hall. She said "Good job, guys." I had to stick my chest out a little bit. . .
Actually, I'm working on the next rocket to go to the moon, not the Shuttle. It felt good anyhow.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,210
Likes: 9
From: CA
Originally Posted by Tonylmiller
We still call it CLV, but I guess it is Ares I now. . .
I work on the stuff that feeds liquid hydrogen and oxygen to the engines.
I work on the stuff that feeds liquid hydrogen and oxygen to the engines.