Well, this is it... NASA awaits.

[compilerbitch]

It's all happening. Really quickly.

After months and months of paperwork wrangling, I finally got my visa last week. NASA booked the plane tickets on Friday. I am leaving on Sunday at 10.05 from Heathrow, and will arrive before late afternoon local time.

It's quite scary.

I start work on Monday in the automated software engineering group at NASA Ames lab. I'm going to be there for 10 weeks, then I'm going to two back-to-back conferences in Italy, and will finally get back to the UK in September.

It will be a long time to be away from friends, and of course from doseybat, but it's really quite an amazing opportunity, so I have to do it really. Well, I am, so it's a moot point realistically.

I'm quite nervous about going somewhere that far away for that long, not really knowing people locally. I know there are one or two LJ friends list people somewhere near, so take this as an Official Announcement:

I would like to meet up with people. :-)

I should still have net access while I'm there, so I'll be posting more about my experiences as the weeks go by.

Oh, I'll be working here:


The big building (which is enormous, apparently) is the world's largest wind tunnel. More specifically, it's the air intake!

Comments

[snow-leopard.livejournal.com]

Its very exciting. Good luck.
(If you get lonely and want snail mail give me your address there.)

[compilerbitch.livejournal.com]

I'll put my address/phone/email/etc. up as a locked post once I'm there.

And yes, snail mail would be lovely!

[jmtkalcich.livejournal.com]

Thats fantastic you have had such an opportunity. If you don't mind me asking, which NASA site is that? One of my customers is NASA< so I was wondering if you were at the same locationa s the guys I deal with.

[compilerbitch.livejournal.com]

It's the Ames research lab, at Moffett Field in Mountain View, California. For referenc, I'd guess that the southernmost extent of San Francisco bay is probably just behind the photographer who took that picture.

[jmtkalcich.livejournal.com]

Oh OK, My guys are at Edwards Air Force Base.

Cool though, that must be ahell of a wind tunnel.

[compilerbitch.livejournal.com]

There are some pictures on the Ames web site:







Notice the relative size of the people standing on the balcony in the last image!

[jmtkalcich.livejournal.com]

Holy Cow! That is amazing! Now I am jealous. I am working in what basically amounts to an oversized closet packed with junk, and you get that!

Congrats. (Extra this time as I am further impressed)

[yvesilena.livejournal.com]

Eep. Good luck. *hugs*

[compilerbitch.livejournal.com]

It's so great when you reply with *that* userpic -- it's like Hooch himself giving me good luck hugs too!

Thanks. :-)

(And look after doseybat while I'm gone!)

[spidosaur.livejournal.com]

Wa hey!... Good luck and I hope you enjoy the experience!.

And also hope you get to play with the "mother of all air-conditioning units"!. Oh, and there are some very pretty wild flowers in that field, too.

[compilerbitch.livejournal.com]

I'll try to get someone to take my picture standing next to it -- apparently the scale of that photo really doesn't do it justice!

[gigib.livejournal.com]

How exciting!!! I hope you have a fabulous time in the Motherland.

[compilerbitch.livejournal.com]

I shall certainly give it a good go! :-)

[redcountess]

Wow, what a fantastic opportunity. I know you've posted about it before, but I don't think it really hit me that it was NASA! Good luck!

[compilerbitch.livejournal.com]

Yerrrrs, I know. It's quite something to have this chance. It's been a childhood dream, ever since my mother sat me down, aged maybe 2 or something, and made me watch the first moon landing live on our 405 line valve black & white TV set. The thought that I'll actually be starting work there NEXT MONDAY (!) is quite something.

[redcountess]

You can't be only two years younger than me??? First moon landing was in '69 and we watched it on our big old b&w! I bet you loved the movie "Space Camp" as well :-)

[compilerbitch.livejournal.com]

Yep, I was born in September 1967. People seem to think I'm younger than that usually (which is nice), but I'm not.

[redcountess]

You're only seven months younger than reddragdiva then (and four months younger than my brother) :-)

Cool, I like knowing people my own age :-)

[compilerbitch.livejournal.com]

Yes, we oldies should stick together.

The younger generation today...

... well in my day, they certanly didn't put up with the kinds of thing that go on now, I can tell you...

[redcountess]

*grin*

[compilerbitch.livejournal.com]

And yes, I did love space camp, although my favourite related film is 'The Dish', which always makes me cry at the end.

[redcountess]

I know I must sound horribly unpatriotic, but I still haven't seen The Dish, although I have heard it is very heartwarming.

I cried when Challenger blew up though :-(

[sphyg.livejournal.com]

I *heart* The Dish. Have fun over there.

[compilerbitch.livejournal.com]

:-)

[lsur.livejournal.com]

Looks incredible! Enjoy yourself!

[tiamatlady]

*SQUEEEEEKK*
YAY for you!
I'm probably visiting kanine out West like, maybe we can see what happens if I'm around that area. It's pretty much the same as flying to England - 6 hours on a plane and the same price *pouts* but I'll keep it in mind, see how feasible it would be to "drop" in.

The area is beautiful, and the US is nicer than the reports are spouting, and you can see how we oust a President firsthand *evil grin* WHEEEEE!

I'm sorry you're going out so FAST tho, but it must be nice to be needed like that!

[compilerbitch.livejournal.com]

I have spent about 6 weeks in California in total, and yes, I do like it there. It is beautiful. You can buy the Weekly World News anywhere. Tex mex is plentiful and relatively cheap. Etc!

But yes, I would love to meet up if you're going to be somewhere near. If you want to come to Mountain View, I will probably be able to show you around. You can play with Mars rovers, it seems! :-)

[catamorphism.livejournal.com]

I would like to meet up with people. :-)

If "people" includes me, let me know... I have a car and within a week I should hopefully be able to drive it :-)

[compilerbitch.livejournal.com]

'People' certainly would include you, of course!

I'm 2 blocks from the train station, so I can get around to an extent, but if you want to visit me you (and anyone you might want to bring of course) would be most welcome.

[catamorphism.livejournal.com]

Either way, then... fortunately for you, the train now runs on weekends (it didn't until a week ago). So, just let me know when you're free. My weekends/evenings are generally open.

[compilerbitch.livejournal.com]

I'll drop you a line when I've arrived and found my way around, etc. I'm thinking probably/maybe something on the 19th/20th weekend?

[catamorphism.livejournal.com]

Sounds good!

[randwolf.livejournal.com]

Well, hey, I used to live within five miles of Ames, when I was working at Sun. I live in Portland, Oregon now, which is about 500 miles away, but I do come down to visit now and again.

Hey, good luck & congratulations!

[compilerbitch.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

It does seem very nice here. I will hopefully be able to post some photos of my own soon. :-)