SpaceX/Falcon 9 – Après des Airbus, le Qatar va-t-il acheter des fusées ?

Le Brigadier Abdulaziz Falah al-Dosari (à gauche) sur le site de lancement et son assistant. - Photo : rke

Décollage de Falcon 9 le
15 novembre 2018. - Photo : rke

[Cape Canaveral, November 24, 2018, rke (English, below] – Dix jours après le lancement de Falcon 9/Es’hail 2, le 15 novembre 2018 à 15h46 (locale), 21h46 (heure Suisse) de Cap Canaveral, je reviens sur cette mission. Eh oui, je suis toujours à Cap Canaveral ! Après une semaine très intense pour terminer le magazine Swiss Engineering RTS du mois de décembre, je peux enfin me re…consacrer aux fusées. Au bout de six mois, ce décollage a eu lieu enfin à l’heure. Tiens, comme par hasard, cela se passe souvent quand je suis sur place. Et c’est plutôt rare, SpaceX demandé à la NASA de bloquer toutes les routes qui mènent au pas de tir, y compris celle du centre des visiteurs. J’ai donc été escorté sur place avec un bus spécialement aménagé pour les étrangers. Du coup, je me suis retrouvé seul avec l’équipe de la télévision du Qatar. Au début, j’étais un peu méfiant de voir un journaliste enturbanné en blanc, mais après une longue attente où il a fallu énormément de patience pour attendre le décollage, j’ai eu le temps de me rendre compte que ces Qataris sont très ouverts et amicaux, contrairement à l’idée qu’en se fait d’eux.

Toujours surveillé jusqu’aux toilettes

Mon gardien de SpaceX a quand même voulu prendre
ce selfie de moi.

Comme d’habitude, j’étais surveillé pour mes moindres faits et gestes, même pour aller aux toilettes (la politique de SpaceX), et il m’a fallu attendre jusqu’à la fin des transmissions directes des TV qatariennes, soit deux bonnes heures après le décollage, pour repartir. Oh, miracle, le gars de SpaceX m’a remercié pour ma patience. Bien m’en a pris puisque j’ai pu faire la connaissance du Brigadier Abdulaziz Falah al-Dosari, assistant en technologie, le ministre d’État aux Affaires de la défense du Qatar. Celui-là mêmecqui a signé en 2016 un contrat pour l’achat de 114 Airbus A 340, puis en décembre 2017 de 50 Airbus A321 et 12 Rafale.

Es’hail-1 lancé par Ariane en 2013 déjà

Artist’s concept of Es’hail 2. Credit: Es’hailSat

Pour la petite histoire, le satellite Es’hail-2, de construction japonaise, est exploité par la société publique Qatar Satellite Company, également connue sous le nom de Es’hailSat. Falcon 9 a placé le satellite Es’hail-2 sur une orbite de transfert géosynchrone, le satellite devant alors atteindre son dernier créneau en orbite géostationnaire de son propre chef. Mais Es’hail-1 de l’État du Moyen-Orient a été lancé conjointement par Es’hailSat et l’opérateur de télécommunications français Eutelsat. Anciennement Eutelsat 25B, il a été déployé par une fusée européenne Ariane 5ECA en août 2013. Placé à 25 degrés Est, le satellite Es'hail-1 devait fonctionner pendant au moins quinze ans à compter de lancement. 

Les radios amateurs sont soulagés

D’autre part, Falcon 9 embarquait la première charge utile d’un satellite radioamateur à voler en orbite géostationnaire, c’est-à-dire fixe au-dessus de nos têtes. Ses deux transpondeurs disposeront d’antennes à large faisceau qui couvrent environ le tiers de la surface de la Terre. Une équipe d'amateurs, dirigée par Peter Guelzow DB2OS (président d'AMSAT-DL), apporte un soutien technique à ce projet novateur qui devrait offrir une nouvelle phase d'activité passionnante aux radioamateurs pour le 21e siècle.

Ah, au fait, après l’achat d’Airbus, le Qatar va-t-il s’offrir des fusées ? Ils en auraient les moyens…

SpaceX/Falcon 9 : 

Qatar's money for Airbus – for rockets, too?

The Qatari TV presenter. - Photo : rke

[Cape Canaveral, November 24, 2018, rke] – Ten days after the launch of Falcon 9 / Es'hail 2, November 15, 2018, at 3:46 pm, from Cape Canaveral, I’m back. Yes, I'm still in Cape Canaveral! After a very intense week to finish Swiss Engineering RTS magazine in December, I can finally get interested in these rockets. After six months, this takeoff finally took place on time. By chance, this happens often when I'm there. And it is rather rare, SpaceX asked NASA to block all roads leading to the shooting range, including that of the visitor center. So I was escorted on site with a bus specially designed for foreigners. As a result, I found myself alone with the Qatar TV team. At first, I was a little suspicious of seeing a journalist in a white turban, but after a long wait where it took a lot of patience to wait for the takeoff, I had time to realize that these Qataris are very open and friendly, contrary to the idea we have of them.

Brigadier Abdulaziz Falah al-Dosari (left)
at the launch site. - Photo : rke

Always guarded to the toilet

As usual, I was watched for my every move, even to go to the bathroom (the SpaceX policy), and I had to wait until the end of direct transmissions Qatari TV (around two hours after takeoff), to leave again. Oh, miracles, the SpaceX guy thanked me for my patience. Fortunately for me, because I got to know the Brigadier Abdulaziz Falah al-Dosari, Assistant for Technology to the Minister of State for Defence Affairs. The same personality that signed in 2016 a contract for the purchase of 114 Airbus A340, then in December 2017 of 50 Airbus A321 and 12 Rafale.

Photo : rke

Es'hail-1 was launched by Ariane in 2013 already

For info, the Japanese-built Es’hail-2 satellite is operated by the state-owned Qatar Satellite Company, also known as Es’hailSat. So, Falcon 9 placed the Es’hail-2 into a geosynchronous transfer orbit, with the satellite expected to then reach its final slot in geostationary orbit under its own power. But the Middle-Eastern state’s existing Es’hail-1 satellite was launched as a joint venture between Es’hailSat and French telecommunications operator Eutelsat. Es’hail-1, which was formerly also known as Eutelsat 25B, was deployed by a European Ariane 5ECA rocket in August 2013. Stationed at 25 degrees East, the Es’hail-1 satellite was expected to operate for at least fifteen years from launch.

My official badge.

Radio amateurs are relieved

Florida Today,
Friday, November
16, 2018

Then, Falcon 9 boarded the first charge of a radio amateur satellite to fly in geostationary orbit (to say fixed above our heads). Its transponders have broad beam antennas to provide full coverage over about 1/3rd of the earth’s surface. A team of amateurs, led by Peter Guelzow DB2OS (President of AMSAT-DL) are providing technical support to this groundbreaking project which is expected to provide an exciting new phase of activity for radio amateurs for the 21st century.

Ah, finally, after the purchase of Airbus, will Qatar offer rockets? It would have the financial means…

Le Qatar s’envoie en l’air

[Cape Canaveral, November 15, 2018, rke (English, below] – Voici mes deux premières images du décollage de Falcon 9/Es’hail 2, satellite de télécommunications du Qatar, et de la première charge utile d’un satellite radioamateur à voler en orbite géostationnaire. Bon, c’est un peu toujours les mêmes ces images de décollage, mais je ne m’en lasse pas. Et vous ? Si c’est le cas, je retourne au pays.

À suivre dans un prochain épisode de mes aventures : seul étranger parmi de hauts gradés du Qatar !

Qatar Flies Away

[Cape Canaveral, November 15, 2018, rke – Here are my first two images of the launch of SpaceX Falcon 9 / Es'hail 2, a Qatar’s national satellite communications company Es’hailSat. And the first amateur radio payload to fly in geostationary orbit. Well, it's a bit the same images of takeoff, but I do not get tired. And you? If that's the case, I go back to Switzerland.

To be continued in an upcoming episode of my adventures: only foreigner among senior officials of Qatar!

Un bouquet de satellites à lancer

Souvent ouverte, la route qui mène au Kennedy Space Center est fermée au public ce jeudi 15 novembre.
Je dois la contourner pour aller sur le site. - Photos rke

My Jeep Compass.

[Cape Canaveral, November 14, 2018, rke (English, below] – Finalement, j’ai quand même eu un sacré coup de bol de choisir de venir à Cap Canaveral depuis ce 13 novembre, car, du coup, il y a 5 événements d’affilée. D’abord le lancement ce jeudi 15 novembre de Falcon 9 / Es’hail 2, satellite de télécommunications du Qatar, et de la première charge utile d’un satellite radioamateur à voler en orbite géostationnaire. L’arrivée du module de service européen de la capsule habitée de la NASA, Orion, demain vendredi 16 novembre. Ce même vendredi, le lancement à partir de Wallops Island (Virginie) de la fusée Antares NG-10 avec le 11e cargo Cygnus vers la station spatiale internationale ISS. Le 19 novembre, lancement de Falcon 9 SSO-A, un bouquet de satellites à s’envoyer en l’air en orbite polaire – avec expérience suisse à bord. Départ de Vandenberg, en Californie. Le 29 novembre, lancement de la grosse fusée Delta 4 (NROL-71), de Vandenberg. Et le 4 décembre le décollage de Cape Canaveral de SpaceX CRS 16, qui comme son nom l’indique est le 16^ecargo à être envoyé vers la station spatiale internationale (ISS). Y’a de quoi faire.

Je viens d’obtenir enfin mon accréditation (carte vert foncé) en passant à la moulinette (empreintes digitales, photo de face) car j’ai ajouté mon 2^enom (Jean) sur mon passeport et il n’était fiché dans la banque de données de la NASA. Je suis dans leurs fichiers depuis… 1981 !

A Stack of Satellites to Launch 

American colleagues,
I have chocolate ... a little bit.

Often open, the road to the Kennedy Space Center is closed to the public
this Thursday, November 15. I need to go around it to go to the site.

[Cape Canaveral, November 14, 2018, rke] – Finally, I did well to choose to come to Cape Canaveral since November 13, because, suddenly, there are 5 consecutive events. First, the launch on Thursday, November 15 of Falcon 9 / Es'hail 2, a Qatar’s national satellite communications company Es’hailSat. And the first amateur radio payload to fly in geostationary orbit. Then, arrival of the European service module of NASA's capsule Orion, tomorrow Friday, November 16th. This Friday, the launch from Wallops Island (Virginia) of the Antares rocket NG-10 with the 11th freighter Cygnus cargo to go to the International Space Station (ISS). On November 19, launch of Falcon 9 SSO-A, a stack of satellites heading into sun-synchronous polar orbit. Numerous small payloads will be launched on this mission for nearly 50 government and commercial organizations from 16 countries, including the United States, Australia, Finland, Germany, Singapore, Thailand and a part of Switzerland. On November 29, Delta 4-Heavy NROL-71, a United Launch Alliance Delta 4-Heavy rocket will launch a classified spy satellite cargo for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. The largest of the Delta 4 family, the Heavy version features three Common Booster Cores mounted together to form a triple-body rocket. Delayed from Sept. 26. Moved forward from Dec. 3.

And on December 4, a SpaceX Falcon 9 CRS-16 rocket will launch the 18th Dragon spacecraft mission on its 16th operational cargo delivery flight to the International Space Station. The flight is being conducted under the Commercial Resupply Services contract with NASA. Delayed from Nov. 16. Moved forward from Nov. 29. Delayed from Nov. 27.

I finally got my accreditation (dark green card) passed examination (fingerprint, front photo) because I added my 2nd name (Jean) on my passport and it was not stuck in the database of NASA. I have been in their files since ... 1981!

Vol direct Zurich - Orlando : quand la nuit nous talonne

Reflet du coucher de soleil sur le réacteur de
l'Airbus A330-300 d'Edelweiss. Photos : rke

[Cape Canaveral, November 13, 2018, rke (English, below] – Bon d’accord. Cela fait plusieurs fois que je vous enquiquine avec « ma » compagnie aérienne suisse Edelweiss. Depuis cette année 2018, elle dessert Zurich-Orlando non-stop,7’970km en presque 11 heures de vol après un départ à 13h40 et une arrivée réellement à 18h20. En vitesse de croisière, avec un vent contraire de 185 km/h, pas de quoi avancer beaucoup, soit une vitesse de 781 km/h à 12’192 m d’altitude (température -64 degrés). À l’approche des USA, on passe sur le célèbre et mythique lieu du naufrage du Titanic de 1912 et très très loin des côtes canadiennes d’Halifax, lieu aussi mythique et tragique du crash de Swissair en 1998, voilà vingt ans.

Le plus sensas est de voler en hiver est que la nuit nous coure après (voir photo), l’ombre de la terre nous rattrape et on peut le voir en simulation sur les images des écrans installés sur chaque siège lesquels offrent enfin une plus ou moins bonne résolution en nombre de pixels. Pour un billet à 995 francs aller-retour + 90 francs (Eco Max) pour être assis côté porte de secours (mais non je n’ai pas peur, j’ai plus de places pour les jambes et je vois mieux les hôtesses) on fait malgré tout une sacrée affaire pour un vol direct. Que de stresse en moins !

Au départ de Zurich

Non, elle n'est pas inquiète,
juste attentionnée

En Floride, Edelweiss rejoint donc maintenant 2 destinations : Tampa et Orlando. Avantage de cette dernière : on est plus proche de Cap. Néanmoins, il n’est plus nécessaire de remplir de documents dans l’avion avant de se poser, comme la fameuse feuille bleue de déclaration de douane. L’aéroport dispose de bornes installées juste avant le contrôle du douanier. On doit à nouveau tapoter sur des écrans (multiples langues) et cela stresse davantage surtout après un long voyage. Et, cerise sur le gâteau : on n’a pas eu d’obligation de passer par ces bornes, pour cette fois. 

Bref, le but de ce trip est d’assister et de vivre aux premières loges à trois lancements (je suis accrédité !), peut-être 4 (avec présence d’une expérience suisse) et une inauguration européenne. Détails dans une prochaine News. Salut !

Direct Flight Zurich - Orlando : When Night Follows us

In flight over Switzerland

[Cape Canaveral, November 13, 2018, rke – Well, OK ! For several times, I bored you with « my » Edelweiss airline. Since this year 2018, it flies from Zurich to Orlando non-stop, 4’952 miles almost 11am flight after a starting at 1:40 pm and arrival... really exactly at 6:20 pm. At a cruising speed with headwinds of 115 mph (not much to move forward), a speed of 485 miles at 40’000 ft (temperature -83 degrees F.). Approaching the US, we pass on the famous and mythical place of the sinking of the Titanic of 1912 and very far from the Canadian coast of Halifax, a mythical and tragic place of Swissair crash in 1998, twenty years ago. The most sensational is to fly in winter because the night runs after us (see photo). The shadow of the earth catches us and we can see it in the simulation on the screens of each seat which now offer a better resolution in number of pixels. For a ticket at 995 dollars round trip + 90 dollars (Eco Max) to be seated side of the emergency door (but no I'm not afraid, I have more places for the legs and I see the hostesses better) is still a hell of a deal for a direct flight. What less stress! In Florida, the Edelweiss airline now joins 2 destinations: Tampa and Orlando. Advantage of Orlando: we are closer to Cape Canaveral. Nevertheless, it is now no longer necessary to fill documents on the plane before landing, such as the famous blue customs declaration sheet. 

The night is following us. From Zurich to Orlando.

There are several terminals installed just before the check of the customs officer. We must tap again on screens (multiple languages) and it stresses more especially after a long trip. And big advantage: we had no obligation to “tap-tap” on theses, this time.

So, the purpose of my trip in the USA now, is to three launches (I am accredited!), maybe 4 (with the presence of Swiss experience) and a European event. Details in future news. Hi!

Sunset on the east coast of Florida at 39'300 ft.

The Guest of The Daily Newspaper “LE QUOTIDIEN JURASSIEN” : Roland J. Keller

Written in French by Jacques Houriet, journalist at the daily newspaper “Le Quotidien Jurassien”, winner (2002) of the Jean Dumur Prize, the highest journalistic distinction in French-speaking Switzerland.
Here is the translation

Français : cliquez sur les images du QJ

Roland J.Keller : "The first step  on the Moon ... and the institutional pedagogy who brought me in the space field."
- Photo taken by : Danièle Ludwig

"I'm the last little Swiss who's going to see rockets, I sometimes feel that I'm more involved with NASA than here. And, being Swiss in the United States is fabulous. For American people, Switzerland is a mountain surrounded by cows, chocolate and watches. They do not know the EPFL and they envy Roger Federer. " Cordial meeting in Courrendlin [North of Switzerland] with Roland J. Keller, an almost cosmic colleague, the only Helvetian currently accredited to NASA.

[Courrendlin, Switzerland, April 28, 2018] Jacques Houriet – Always considerate, my photographer is waiting for me near a small building, in the center of Courrendlin, in front of which some young people get drunk with music. Our host of the day is on the second floor, we carefully choose the elevator. He opens us in space suits, it's a lot of precautions to receive a colleague. Three or four accreditation hanging around his neck, he has the radiant face Roland J. Keller. It's new, this intermediate J?

- "There is such a profusion of Roland Keller that it brought confusion, so 2 years ago I added the initial of my middle name, Jean, which is also the name of my godfather, a man adorable. Do you want to see my office? "

I finally got what I wanted, it took me 30 years.
- Photo taken by : Danièle Ludwig

Self-Photo

The desk is very small, attic, lined with light wooden storage crates where dozens of binders hold all the articles written by our guest since his dawn. Three computers help heat the room; on the wall, two diplomas, a precision mechanic and a university certificate from Belfort-Montbéliard in business creation and management; on the ground a sophisticated photographic camera that a sound is enough to trigger that it comments: 60 000 releases per year ... Needs some albums.

Yet he admits a little tense before the goal of my photographer who has fun.

We settle at the large wooden table of the living room. In the part of that one, chairs and couch are foxy, the walls adorned with pictures of animals, a cat, a giraffe, and even a young woman, head to head with a horse:

- "My daughter Laura, riding fans, like her mom Anita, and I do the pictures ..."

He married late, Roland ...

- "In 1995, or 1997, wait ..."

He disappears and comes back laughing:

- "It was 1996, I was 39 years old."

And his wife Anita, 16 years less.

Le Quotidien Jurassien du 28 avril 2018.

Revelation

So Roland is from Pleigne, even bourgeois, as were his grandparents, the families of Arthur Brosy and Ariste Keller. But he spent his childhood in Delémont [Capital of Jura], where the family temporarily took refuge after the fire of the family cottage. Son of Jeannine and Henry, said Rilo, locksmith at Von Roll [a former blast furnace company], Roland has two brothers, including the postman of Pleigne, and two sisters. No memory seems to have marked him until he was 13 years old and the combination of two apparently unrelated events:

- "I have the chance to go into a new teaching method, institutional pedagogy, with Michel Girardin. Freedom is left to the students to manage themselves, to opt for what they like. And it was that year, July 20, 1969, that the man walked on the moon for the first time. A universal event, even my grandmother Léontine got up at 3 am to see that. "

That is to say…

Leave his cradle

Space exploration has not made much progress in 50 years, apart from a few billionaire trips ...

- "The main motivation at the time was to go beyond the Russians. The dream did not stop, it is in the nature of the man, but for the moment we have remained to the domestication of space by our satellites of comfort. As for the billionaires, it is perhaps thanks to them that one day we will all be able to move in space. Because, as Tsiolkovsky said, the father of the rocket: "The Earth is the cradle of humanity, but we cannot always stay in its cradle."

Roland starts collecting scientific articles, but does not content himself with it. He writes to NASA at 13!

- "And I received an answer, and documentation. NASA provides information, unlike Russians who hide everything. Ah! I was proud. I continued to write afterwards, and I have always received answers ... "

Le Quotidien Jurassien du 28 avril 2018.

First steps to the "Demo"

Passion turned to science, space, he dreams of prestigious professions, but he is right:

- "How to become a space reporter? I did not go out of college. Without enthusiasm, I do an apprenticeship of precision mechanics at Tornos, a precise, rigorous job. A good experience finally. But I'm still not on the right track. "

He continues his training in a technical school in Bienne and puts a foot in journalism:

- "The Former Democrate Newspaper was looking for a correspondent for the Haut-Plateau, I propose myself. And there I covered everything, from communal assemblies to obituaries, from theater to sports competitions, television reviews, I could do everything except football. The editor-in-chief, Jean-Luc Vautravers, whom I thank again, trusted me. And that's when I started writing science articles. "

Professionally, he becomes head of the digital control department of a Biel enterprise:

- "I won well, I did little. But it was not exciting at all. I preferred writing for Le Demo. "

The Drama Fascinates

In 1981 he is accredited to NASA, where he is almost in known territory, for 12 years that he wrote to him, goes there at his own expense and offers an original article to the Democrate who pompously sign "our special correspondent ". He could have added free ...

- "Naïve as I was, I thought my job of journalist was engaged, I started myself as a space editor, I create Astropresse. It did not work, hey ... "

In January 1986 he was one of the rare Europeans to attend the launch of the Challenger shuttle in Cape Canaveral. One minute after taking off, the explosion, the drama, seven dead ... Roland's eyes darken, he makes a rum face ...

- "There all the media asked me, it's sad to say, but this trip I had covered ... It was necessary to testify."

To get out financially he will be for some time representative for life insurance:

- "I realized my goals for the year in a few months, and I returned to my passion."

His company sends him to Valais [big mountains in south of Switzerland]:

My last trip in NASA/KSC in April 2018.
- photo : Rob van Mackelenbergh

- "But in Valais, I was only the tourist Jura passing, you drink a drink, two glasses, three glasses with the Valais because you're Jurassien, but for business, you're not local."

Not easy. He finds himself unemployed, takes the opportunity to follow studying (Belfort, in France) in creation and management of business:

- "I wanted to understand my failures."

Lucid.

Backside on air

For a time he embarked on the creation of websites, while continuing his various correspondences to newspapers, which increase. He offers his services to a nautical magazine, the Cavalier Romand, which allows him to follow the exploits of his ladies, at Espace Magazine, Moto Sport, a free newspaper, including:

- "I covered four Paralympic Games in Sydney, Salt Lake City, Athens and Turin. I tell you again, I write about everything, beekeeping, « macramé » or rockets. Except the foot ... "

His workbooks bear witness to this.

In March 2008, he was appointed editor-in-chief of the monthly of Swiss Engineering [Revue Technique Suisse, RTS]. It is thanks to them and the exhibition EPHJ (Geneva) that he will live a dream: a flight in zero gravity.

The French company Novespace organizes once a year flight for scientists. For the financial, the animators simultaneously offer the flight to private, 24 people who have, have, disbursed 8’500 dollars for this rare experience. The plane, a modified Airbus A 310, rises to 10’000 meters and stakes, and describes 16 ballistic parabola.

My last flight in "Zero G" in October 22, 2016. - Photos : Novespace/Dovespace

Tales from Space

The passengers are in weightlessness 16 times 22 seconds (6 minutes, therefore) and know various sensations: the total weightlessness, where one floats in nothing, the lunar weightlessness, where one weighs 6 times less than its earth weight, and Martian weightlessness, where you lose a third of your weight, explains Roland:

- "And when you fall back, there is a moment when you weigh twice (1.8 g). It is magic. Of course I dream of going back, just find a sponsor ... "

Since 1981 Roland has attended, on site, 24 rocket launches. Is there still a popular interest in launching rockets when they do not explode?

- "The interest is all that surrounds it, make it possible, there is a pedagogy to do. I am a space reporter, not an engineer, I tell more than I explain, and I hope to tell. That's why I made a blog (www.rkeusa.blogspot.com). Jacques Stadelmann, who was one of my faithful, told me that I made him dream. Many readers tell me to wait for this news in the evening to fall asleep. "

Like a fairy tale.

The housekeeping shuttle

Still, it does not move the media anymore:

- "In Early April I attended a launch that included an optical system from Neuchâtel. I warned all the newspapers: no answer. Yet it is interesting, they are devices intended to recover space waste, which could disturb our satellites ... "

He explains to me the sophisticated technique of these household shuttles equipped with nets. Cosmic vacuum cleaners with nets to recover the debris of our previous exploits to bring them back to earth add them to ours we will take care later. After the shrimp fishing, the shuttle fishing! It's less digestible, and it's more expensive.

(jh)

----

Trump

Roland J. Keller : - It "trump" a lot [In French trump is like “tromper” = delude]. In the thatched cottages, he is only a little criticism.  Many Americans say that thanks to him they found a job, and that's all they want.

Men and Women Equality

- For work, all right. For the rest, I admit that I'm a little macho.

Vice declared...

Social Networks

- Networks, especially computer, are useful, even necessary. But to be social is to talk to someone by looking into their eyes.

Solar Impulse

- The most beautiful Swiss project in energy, promising for ecological aviation.

The Legalized H

- It's a way, too.

To hover ...

Wind Turbines

- A supplement to renewable energy, but they will not be enough.

The Planet

- It may not be too late if everyone grabs the problem and decides to reduce its consumption.

Still to convince

Health Costs

- They explode. We will have to explain the system a little better. If we knew everything, perhaps we would be less rebellious.

Or more ...

Print Newspapers

- They have a future; their scarcity will make their value.

Policies

- I respect them all. They engage, assume and cash shots. Whatever they do, they are criticized.

Poor guys.

(jh)

- Photo taken by : Danièle Ludwig

Item

Roland J. Keller : "To avoid accidents, no shoes on board. By dint of gesticulating or hovering like a feather in weightless, I had, like all, put on simple cotton socks "Air ZeroG", during my "weightlessness" flight from Zurich to the Mediterranean . In the emptiness, a kick is quickly dropped! And the color of the socks makes it possible to distinguish the group to which one belongs. I was with the Moon, the blue socks. "

Haute couture spatiale : la broderie intérieure des navettes

Jean Wright, couturière de navette. - The Space Shuttle's seamstresses. - Photo : NASA KSC

Une tuile de la navette dans la rue principale
de Cap Canaveral chez Zarella's Italian
& Wood Fired Pizza. Pas pour manger,
évidemment, mais pour toucher, seulement.
- Photo : rke

[Cape Canaveral, Florida, April 9, 2018, rke – English below] – Eh oui, l’espace a aussi ses couturières et couturiers. Des brodeuses ou des brodeurs de fusées, que voilà un beau métier. Surtout quand tout est fait main. Au fil de mon trip, j’ai eu la chance d’en rencontrer une, au Kennedy Space Center. C’est Jean Wright, ex-ingénieure en assemblage de matériaux composite chez United Space Alliance, la dame au « fil d’or ». Enfin, presque. Car, quand il a fallu recouvrir l’intérieur du « coffre » de la navette spatiale, la NASA a fait appel à elle pour assembler des tissus ultra-résistants. Des échantillons qui ont été découpés à partir d’une doublure installée sur des couvertures isolantes (similaire au tamisage des fenêtres) pour aider à maintenir la propreté des baies de la charge utile des orbiteurs. Les doublures ont été remplacées entre les vols pour les besoins de configuration selon les dommages ou la décoloration.

Fibre de quartz et de verre ainsi que fil de céramique

Lorsque le programme de navette a pris fin, Jean Wright a quitté le secteur spatial. Elle s'est formée pour devenir une guide bénévole d’Atlantis. Elle, et d'autres « Sew Sisters » les « Sœurs couturières », ont brodé le tissu de quartz enduit de fibre de verre sur les bords des portes, la baie et le bas des trois moteurs de la navette pour former une barrière thermique. Le tout a été rappondu avec du fil de céramique. 

Ken Kremer de SpaceUpClose.com et Jean Wright découvrent notre
numéro annuel : Schweizer Luft- und Raumfahrt 2018.
L'aviation et l'espace suisses.

Ken Kremer of SpaceUpClose.com and Jean Wright discover our
annual book :  Schweizer Luft- und Raumfahrt 2018.
Swiss AeroSpace Year Book 2018.

14 heures à coudre dans le « nez » d’Atlantis

La jeune dame de Melbourne (Floride), qui a commencé à coudre des vêtements à l'âge de 9 ans, a donc débuté par la couture le revêtement protecteur pour le véhicule le plus sophistiqué du monde. La navette Atlantis, la vraie, celle qui est exposée au KSC, c’est un peu son bébé. Une fois, elle a passé 14 heures contorsionnée à l'intérieur de son « nez », cousant à la main des couvertures thermiques autour des portes et du train d'atterrissage.

Elle m’en a d’ailleurs laissé un morceau qui provient en fait de la navette Columbia (OV-102) du vol STS 109, en mars 2002 (photo ci-contre). Autant vous dire que je suis ravi ! Ça, c’est sûr, c’est de la vraie haute couture. 

Le tissu qui a recouvert l'intérieur de la navette.
Mince comme une feuille de papier mais solide
à toute épreuves.

« Haute couture »:  The Art of Sewing or the Interior Embroidery of Shuttles

[Cape Canaveral, Florida, April 9, 2018, rke Oohhh, yeah ! The space also has its embroiderers. That's a good job. Especially when everything is handmade. During my trip, I had the chance to meet, at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC-VC), with Jean Wright, former composite materials assembly engineer at United Space Alliance. The lady with the "gold thread"! Well, almost. Because, when it was necessary to cover the interior of the "safe" of the space shuttle, NASA called upon her to assemble ultra-resistant tissues. Samples that have been cut from a liner installed on insulating blankets (similar to sieving windows) to help maintain the cleanliness of the payload bays of the orbiters. The liners have been replaced between flights for configuration purposes depending on the damage or discoloration.

The precision of the stitches.

Quartz and Glass Fiber and Ceramic Wire

When the shuttle program ended, Jean Wright left the space sector. She trained to become a docent for Atlantis. She, and other "Sew Sisters" the "Seamstress Sisters", embroidered the fiberglass-coated quartz tissue on the edges of the doors, the bay and the bottom of the three shuttle engines to form a thermal barrier. Everything has been linked with ceramic thread.

14 Hours to Sew in the "Nose" of Atlantis

The young lady from Melbourne (Florida), who started sewing clothes at the age of 9, began stitching protective coverings for the world’s most sophisticated vehicle. Of all the orbiters, she feels a personal connection to Atlantis. She once spent 14 hours contorted inside its cramped nose cone, hand sewing thermal blankets around the landing gear doors.

She left me a piece that actually comes from the shuttle Columbia (OV-102) flight STS 109, in March 2002 (photo opposite). As much to say to you that I am delighted! For sure, it's real « haute couture ».

Le pas de tir 41 de l'US Air Force dans l'attente de la fusée Atlas 5 AFSPC 11. - Photo : rke

Le Longines Global Champions Tour de Miami : un brin d’exotisme hippique accessible à tout un chacun

La Suissesse Jane Richard Philips et Foica van den Bisschop. - Photo : rke

Le big truck à chevaux devant l'hôtel.
- Photo : rke

[Miami, Florida, April 7, 2018, rke– English below] – Sur place, en Floride, je ne pouvais pas louper ça ! Le Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT, une compétition hippique 5 étoiles de haut niveau. Elle n’est pas très appréciée par des cavaliers peu fortunés de par son côté spectaculaire, mais à tort, me semble-t-il, après mon escapade sur place. Du coup, j’ai donc embarqué dans mon élégante Ford Edge grise (une balourde) et j’ai foncé de Cocoa à Miami Beach pour assister au moins à l’épreuve phare, le Grand Prix (1 m 60). 3 heures de route et bonne heure dans le trafic, du Nord de la ville, jusqu’à Miami Beach. En venant du Nord le plus simple est de prendre la 15^erue Est et la suivre jusqu’à l’embranchement perpendiculaire ou vous atteignez la fameuse A1A. Puis, attention de bien rester sur la droite et de descendre le sud. A quelques rues plus loin, vous tombez pile poile sur les box en plein du LGCT. On ne peut pas les louper. Le problème ? C’est le parking. Rien n’est prévu et organisé à cet effet. Il faut y aller à- la débrouillardise et ne pas hésiter à se garer au loin, quitte à marcher un peu. Le site est en face du Collins Park. Les box sont d’emblée installés à bord de l’A1A, mais cela ne gêne en rien les chevaux du fait que l’endroit est très étendu.

Tropique-hippique

Les boxes en face de l'A1A. - Photo : rke

J’ai d’ailleurs été surpris de l’odeur des équidés qui mélangé à un air tropical donne un parfum très agréable. Et comme si on allait à la plage, on remarque, tout proche, de très longues tantes implantées et il y a suffisamment de larguer jusqu’en bord de mer. Les touristes peuvent s’installer sur les tribunes (à gauche) sans payer. Il y a juste une vigie pour un simple contrôle de routine. À droite du « stade sur sable », là il faut montrer un badge, mais il n’y a pas de fouille. A l’intérieur de cette zone VIP est installé un centre de presse dont la vitrine donne directement sur le carré de sable (si je puis dire) du concours. Et pas besoin de dossard pour reconnaître les photographes.

Pius Schwizer (left) and I. - Selfie

Pius Schwizer : "Mes chevaux ont été perturbés par le climat marin"

« Mes chevaux ont un peu été perturbés par l’endroit particulier de la plage », m’a confié le cavalier suisse Pius Schwiser, médaillé de bronze des Jeux olympiques par équipe de 2008 qui n’a pas pris part au Grand Prix, mais l’épreuve précédente. En tous cas, c’est vrai qu’il y a un côté show à l’Américaine qui n’est pas pour déplaire aux nombreux vacanciers qui ont la possibilité de voir un prestigieux concours en bord de plage, et ce gratuitement. Rien que pour cela, le déplacement en vaut la peine. Un brin d’exotisme hippique accessible à tout un chacun. Les chevaux ont au moins pu sauter dans du sable naturel… Allez Alban, ça vaut le détour !

• Post-scriptum : j'oubliais de vous dire que je suis venu e.n tant qu'éclaireur reporter pour les prochaines éditions. Surtout avec ma fille Laura et peut-être sa maman Anita

Scott Brash (Great Britain) and Ursula XII. - Photo : rke

D'autres images / Other photos : click here

The Pom-Pom Grils. - Photo : rke

The Longines Global Champions Tour of Miami: a Bit of Horse-Exoticism-Exhibition Accessible to Everyone

The winners of Miami Grand Prix : Edwina Tops-Alexander and California. - Photo : rke

The road. - Photo : Google

[Miami, Florida, April 7, 2018, rke] – As I am in a press trip to Florida, I could not miss this! The Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT), a high-level 5-star horse racing competition. This event is not very popular by less fortunate riders because of its spectacular side, but wrongly, it seems to me, after my adventure in Miami Beach. So, I boarded in my elegant gray Ford Edge (a little bump) and sailed from Cocoa to Miami Beach to attend at least the flagship event, the Grand Prix (1m60). 3 hours drive and good hours in traffic, from the north of the city, to Miami Beach. From the North, the best way is to take the 15th Street East and the follow the perpendicular junction where you reach the famous A1A, then be careful to stay on the right and go down south. A few streets further, you fall right on the boxes in the LGCT. The problem is the parking lot, nothing is planned and organized. This must be done with self-help and do not hesitate to park in the distance, even if you want to walk a little. The site is in front of Collins Park. The boxes are immediately installed aboard the A1A, but it does not bother the horses because the place is very extensive.

A smell of equines mixed with a tropical air 

The Press Center. - Photo : rke

I was surprised by the smell of equines mixed with a tropical air gives a very pleasant scent. And as if we went to the beach, we notice, very close, very long aunts and there is enough to drop to the seaside. Tourists can settle on the stands (left) without paying. There is just a lookout for a simple routine check. To the right of the "stadium on sand,” there must be a badge, but there is no frisking. Inside this VIP area there is a press center whose showcase directly overlooks the sand site (if I may say) of the competition. And no need to put a bib to recognize photographers.

Pius Schwizer: "My horses have been unrest by the sea climate"

"My horses have been a little disturbed by the particular place on the beach," said Swiss rider Pius Schwiser, 2008 Olympic Games team bronze medalist who did not take part in the Grand Prix, but the previous proof. In any case, it is true that there is an American’s show for this event, but that is not to displease the many tourists who have the opportunity to see a prestigious contest on the beach, and free of charge. Just for that, the trip is worth it. A bit of horse-exoticism-exhibition accessible to everyone. And the horses have at least been able to jump in natural sand ... Come on Alban ! – (Poudret, Chief Editor of Le cavalier Romand) – it's worth the trip!

• PS: I forgot to tell you that I have come as a scout-reporter for future editions. Especially with my daughter Laura and maybe her mom Anita

Panorama of the beach. - Photo : rke