Countdown to History

(If you are here because you met me at #NASATweetup or want to meet me, here’s what I look like today and HERE is a good “Hello. My Name is Katy post. Conveniently, I’m wearing the same shirt as I was in that post. Different shoes, though. Go there and you’ll see why.)

My Early Morning Kitchen Mug Shot

It’s a very, very exciting day.

Leading up to another very, very exciting day.

Endeavour Crew, courtesy http://nasa.gov

(And probably, a very, very exhausted Katy by late Friday night.)

Today, I am joining hundreds of VIPs for the official STS 134 Tweetup, organized by NASA. It’s hard to believe, but I have lived in Central Florida for seven years and never seen a shuttle launch in person. I’ve been in the control room, my backyard or in front of a TV at home, but never at the launch pad.

That’s changing this week, as I have the privilege of meeting several of the astronauts who will take Endeavour into orbit at 3:47p.m. on Friday afternoon. This morning, I pick up my super top secret credentials and join the other Tweetup members at the press site. Over the next two days, we’ll pose at the countdown clock, tour the site, check out some spacesuits and other cool space stuff…

Endeavous: STS-134

…and then watch Endeavour’s glorious launch. I get chills just thinking about it.

Here’s the beauty — I get to bring you along through the power of Twitter)

A few resources for you to follow me and the launch:

• The official Tweetup account: @NASATweetup
• The official Tweetup list: http://twitter.com/#!/nasatweetup/sts-134-launch (I recommend plugging it into a Tweetdeck column)
• The official Tweetup hashtag: #NASATweetup (I recommend plugging that into a Tweetdeck column or using Tweetchat.com)
• NASA TV: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html

And if you’re a shuttle nerd (hey, I am too!)

• STS-134 Mission page: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts134
• STS-134 Mission Summary: http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/531933main_STS134_MissionSummary.pdf
• Launch countdown 101: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/launch/countdown101.html
• Endeavour fact sheet: http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/531941main_2011.04.04_ENDEAVOUR.pdf
• Launch countdown milestones http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/news/134_countdown_milestones.html

My main goals for this mission? To enjoy every freaking second. This is historic, people…the type of thing I’ll be telling my kids about. So follow me on Twitter (@kwidrick).

My mini-goals? Get pictures with President and Michelle Obama, Seth Green, Levar Burton and Mark Kelly. I think I have a shot at two of them.

(If you absolutely cannot stand to follow my space tweets or want to block the entire hashtag, you can use http://muuter.com)

My question to you: If I do get to meet any of the celebrities … what should I ask them?

While you're here...

My Space Odyssey: Endeavour (So Far)Five for FridayBlog Homework: Day 9Endeavour: The Launch