Three weeks to go until GRAIL launch!! (and of course, the Endless BBQ!)

"Your request submitted on 08/16/2011 has been Approved.

Event: GRAIL Launch Tweetup (Confirmed NASA JPL Invitees ONLY)"


I got my NASA security clearance this week. I feel like I should be able to list this on a resume or something. Is there anything more badass than saying that you got clearance by a government agency that has an outpost full of men with big guns guarding the Canaveral Seashore NASA property line so that people can't sneak in and hitch rides to space? Of course not! Now it is just a waiting game...

We also found out this week that the #EndlessBBQ is a GO! It will be held at Cocoa Beach Brewing Company on launch day in the evening. (Time/Date subject to change though!) Follow @EndlessBBQ on Twitter for details.

It also looks like our Tweetup will be a little different than the last ones. We will have our tour in the morning, and be at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex after lunch for the guest speakers. We also pick up our badges at KSCVC. A detailed itinerary has not been given to us yet, but they did give us  those bits of information. They also have not announced where we will be viewing the Delta II launch from, although some speculate we will be watching from KARS park.

IF YOU ARE VIEWING THE LAUNCH OFF SITE: Go to the LISATS point to watch. I will give you directions if you need them and there are maps available on the LISATS website under launch operations. (I linked to their home page below) This will give you an amazing view of the launch, it is a really close view and you should be able to see it clear the pad since you can set up on the hill that builds up the overpass. You will probably get pretty close to the same view as us. If I had to guess, I would say it is around 5 miles from the launch pad, but don't depend on me, I am horrible at estimating distance.

If you go there, look for my pals Roy Hill and John Oster with LISATS. Tell them I sent you! These guys know NASA- Click here to learn more about LISATS (be sure to click on "launch operations" too)

ADDITIONAL NOTE: Pupples Wonderdog Valare's presence at the #GRAIL #NASATweetup has been requested by a fellow attendee. She must respectfully decline, as there is no way she will pass the background check. You see, she has a little problem shoplifting cow hooves off the bottom shelf when we go to Petco.... Pupples is a Catahouligan ;) She said to tell NASA that if they build a dog park, dogs will come!