NASA loves acronyms. Loves them.
Can’t get enough of them.
Which makes a lot of sense: would you rather say Baseline Accounting and Reporting System or BARS? Johnson Space Center truncates to JSC, Capsule Commander (the earth-based link between astronauts and the rest of NASA) truncates to CAPCOM, and so on.
Wherever possible, these acronyms generally sound catchy. Case in point: the Shuttle’s Orbital Maneuvering System is shortened to OMS, but is pronounced OHMS (like how much resistance you might have in a circuit). Sometimes the acronyms can be said different ways: the Canadian-built Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator is truncated to SPDM but pronounced, much to the chagrin of the Canadians, as Spudim.
But curiously enough, some parts and equipment become proper nouns. This happens most often on human rated equipment, such as the newly installed Cupola on the International Space Station (ISS). Usually NASA professionals refer to it as Cupola, but rarely the cupola. Additionally, the International Space Station is not usually referred to as ISS or the space station, but rather Space Station or Station.
This reminds me of Apple’s instance one making iPhone a proper noun.
I brought this up to a few NASA professionals, and their response was that there is rarely a single word for an object or piece of equipment. Over time the official name is truncated to an informal working name, which is whittled down to be as succinct and clear as possible to facilitate quick understanding and conversation. A must when broadcasting between space and earth. Nobody discusses Harmony: that would be Node 2; no one talks about PMA-2 (that would be Pressurized Mating Adapter): that would be Adapter; no one asks permission to enter Quest Joint Airlock: it is merely Airlock.

This article continues my reporting of my junket NASAtweetup at the Johnson Space Center on 17 FEB 2010. For all articles, check out the NASA tweetup page and photos.

President Obama Calls International Space Station (201002170001HQ), originally uploaded by nasa hq photo

Check out the view we had during the NASAtweetup at JSC:

http://www.ustream.tv/flash/live/1/750690Free Webcam Chat at Ustream

Astronaut Bobby Satcher, originally uploaded by plemeljr

NASAtweetup, originally uploaded by plemeljr

Best. Logo. Ever.

I was lucky to get a slot in today’s NASA Tweetup at the Johnson Space Center, in Houston, Texas. JSC is the home of NASA’s manned flight program – which is rapidly coming to a close. Currently a shuttle mission, STS-130 using the Space Shuttle Endeavour, is finishing the addition of a new section of the International Space Station (ISS) with the addition of Tranquility Node 3/Cupola:

The European-built Node 3 is the final one of the three International Space Station nodes, which will be launched into orbit. The Cupola will become a panoramic control tower for the International Space Station, a dome-shaped module with windows through which operations on the outside of the station can be observed and guided. It is a pressurized observation and work area that will accommodate command and control workstations and other hardware.

We will be given a tour of the public areas of JSC and then a private tour of parts of JSC – weather permitting. During our time at the NASA tweetup, STS-130 will be on Flight Day 11, which has the following schedule:

• Endeavour to ISS transfer operations
• Joint Crew News Conference
• Rendezvous Tool Checkout
• Farewells and Hatch Closure
• ISS reboost, if required

The crew of STS-130 are:

• Commander: George D. Zamka
• Pilot: Terry W. Virts Jr.
• Mission Specialist 1: Kathyrn P. Hire
• Mission Specialist 2: Stephen K. Robinson
• Mission Specialist 3: Nicholas J.M. Patrick
• Mission Specialist 4: Robert L. Behnken

One thing I’ve always wondered about when the space shuttle docks to the ISS, is what happens to the momentum of the space shuttle once it hits the ISS? Here’ the explanation:

When Endeavour makes contact with the station, preliminary latches will automatically attach the two spacecrafts. The shuttle’s steering jets will be deactivated to reduce the forces acting at the docking interface. Shock absorber springs in the docking mechanism will dampen any relative motion between the shuttle and station.
Once motion between the shuttle and the station has been stopped, the docking ring will be retracted to close a final set of latches between the two vehicles.

Further posts will discuss the future of manned space flight, and provide up-to-date information to the Reader.
To follow along with future NASA Tweetup posts, please click here.

STS-130, originally uploaded by plemeljr

Check out photos of STS-130 and Shuttle Endeavour.
Don’t forget: I’m going to interview astronauts on Wednesday. Follow along on twitter or on this page.

Concept, originally uploaded by Flying Jenny

Check out some of these Space Shuttle Concepts from a fellow NASA Tweetup attendee.

In two weeks I will be joining the STS-130 Tweetup at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. This will coincide with STS-130 (wikipedia page) – the Space Shuttle flight to the International Space Station which will deliver and install the Tranquility module and the Cupola.
Hopefully I will be able to bring to you live video, but the morning will be livecast on ustream at: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nasa-television, and you can follow us on twitter at http://twitter.com/nasatweetup/jsc-sts-130-tweetup.
I’m going to try to do a combination of livecasting through ustream, twitter updates, and a flickr page. I think I might even make a standalone page combining all of that so it will be easy to find. More details to follow.
Question: what would you like to see?