Andy's Flying and Spaceflight Page

The Rotating Service Structure rolls back to reveal Space Shuttle Atlantis on pad 39B prior to launch. The Shuttle is scheduled for launch Oct. 7 at 3:46 p.m. EDT on mission STS-112. Photo credit: NASA. 2002-10-06

In the early morning hours, Space Shuttle Atlantis, with its solid rocket boosters and orange external tank, sits atop the Mobile Launcher Platform ready to roll to the launch pad. Atlantis began its rollout to Launch Pad 39B at 2:27 a.m. EDT in preparation for launch to the International Space Station. The Shuttle arrived at the Pad and was hard down at 9:38 a.m. Launch is scheduled no earlier than Oct. 2 for mission STS-112, the 15th assembly flight to the International Space Station. Atlantis will carry the S1 Integrated Truss Structure, which will be attached to the central truss segment, the S0 truss, during the mission. Photo credit: NASA. 2002-09-10

This is one of the few photos in my Tomcat photo collection I didn't take. This photo was taken by Lt. Dick Clark, who's my roommate aboard the USS Carl Vinson. I am in the backseat of that Tomcat, which is why he graciously gave me a copy of his photo.

When you are in the air and far at sea, this is what "Mother" looks like. Happy Mother's Day! (Photo by Andy Foster.)

Psyche Spacecraft Prepares for Mars Flyby NASA’s Psyche spacecraft will pass about 2,800 miles (4,500 kilometers) from the Martian surface at 12,328 mph (19,840 kph) on May 15, 2026. The Red Planet w...

A fascinating mission and video:

Psyche Spacecraft Prepares for Mars Flyby NASA’s Psyche spacecraft will pass about 2,800 miles (4,500 kilometers) from the Martian surface at 12,328 mph (19,840 kph) on May 15, 2026. The Red Planet w...

Downloading pictures from the NASA Imagery website of some of the new Artemis II images this morning. This one caught my interest; notice that behind the descending Orion capsule there's another object on chutes also descending; I believe this to be the capsule's Forward Bay Cover (FBC). Cool to have them in the SAME pic! (And, of course, the other point of interest is who's in the sailboat also in the background and why are they that close to the recovery point?)

On May 13th, the original Topgun movie (which involved a lot of flying by my ex-squadron with airplanes I flew in), VF-51, about a year or so after I left) is being re-released on its 40th anniversary. There will be a showing at the Downtown Cinema 8 (Kirksville MO) that day at 1400 (2 pm for you civilians). Join me there and we'll sit together so I can reminisce about old times and we can talk about it afterwards.