Not sure how long this post will last since I'll be mentioning a political figure who tends to polarize certain members of our beloved Fort. Maybe you guys will surprise me!
Here in the Mission Control Center, we often get VIPs who like to come in and say a few words to the space station crew. Today, that person was Ivanka Trump (along with some NASA bigwigs, Ted Cruz, and a couple of other Texan politicians). As she was talking to the crew, they exchanged the usual happy words like "You guys are doing a great job, yada, yada, yada." with the crew answering with their usual "Thank you for the support, our work wouldn't be possible without you guys..." Then Astronaut Drew Feustel hands the microphone to Russian Cosmonaut Oleg Artyomev who, in very broken English says, "Ivanka, I just want to tell you I think you are very nice person, and when they show you on TV, I get a really good feeling inside and my mood rises." Everyone just kind of paused, trying to understand if we heard that exactly right...and of course, I was laughing on the inside from my console in the front of the room. I know exactly what it's like to want to say something profound in a foreign language only to have it come out all wrong. Hell, that happens to me in English too. After a moment, Drew takes the microphone back and says "well, after that awkward silence..." and spouts out some more standard astronaut happy words.
And for the "pics or it didn't happen crowd, we're not allowed to take photos when VIPs are here. I don't know if they'll show that on the news tonight, but I'm sure it'll be replayed on NASA TV ad nauseam. And I'm guessing Ivanka or NASA will be posting something on their twitter or instagram accounts.
Here in the Mission Control Center, we often get VIPs who like to come in and say a few words to the space station crew. Today, that person was Ivanka Trump (along with some NASA bigwigs, Ted Cruz, and a couple of other Texan politicians). As she was talking to the crew, they exchanged the usual happy words like "You guys are doing a great job, yada, yada, yada." with the crew answering with their usual "Thank you for the support, our work wouldn't be possible without you guys..." Then Astronaut Drew Feustel hands the microphone to Russian Cosmonaut Oleg Artyomev who, in very broken English says, "Ivanka, I just want to tell you I think you are very nice person, and when they show you on TV, I get a really good feeling inside and my mood rises." Everyone just kind of paused, trying to understand if we heard that exactly right...and of course, I was laughing on the inside from my console in the front of the room. I know exactly what it's like to want to say something profound in a foreign language only to have it come out all wrong. Hell, that happens to me in English too. After a moment, Drew takes the microphone back and says "well, after that awkward silence..." and spouts out some more standard astronaut happy words.
And for the "pics or it didn't happen crowd, we're not allowed to take photos when VIPs are here. I don't know if they'll show that on the news tonight, but I'm sure it'll be replayed on NASA TV ad nauseam. And I'm guessing Ivanka or NASA will be posting something on their twitter or instagram accounts.
