Falling

graphic: NASA artist's concept illustration
ORBITAL: Last night, we gathered 'round the television to watch the culmination of a 10-month, 442-mile journey as NASA's MAVEN orbiter reached the Red Planet.

The real time orbit insertion coverage on NASA TV had a slightly 'not-ready-for-primetime' production quality to it (for instance, the hosts kept talking to the wrong camera), but it was live and exciting nonetheless. 

Not surprisingly, quite a cheer went up at mission control when MAVEN reached orbit safely.

NASA Credit: NASA/Sandy Joseph and Kevin O'Connell

We cheered, too, up on our deck, where Christian installed cable TV this weekend (just in time for the last weekend of summer, we are!).

Saturday night, we also tuned in to watch a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft lifts off on a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, after being delayed from a Friday night launch.  It was carrying about 5,000 pounds of NASA science investigations and cargo (including some live rats!) to th International Space Station.

Dragon is scheduled to be grappled at 7:04 a.m. Eastern time on Tuesday, Sept. 23, by Expedition 41 Flight Engineer Alexander Gerst of the European Space Agency,

IN THE SWIM:  CJ has been Very Worried that he's never going to get to go swimming again since summer is over and our local outdoor pool has closed. For the past several days he has been asking to go to an indoor pool in the area. 

We did a little research online last night, and decided to check out the pool at the Federal Way Community Center this morning for their open swim, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

What a *lovely* community center they have in Federal Way. Gorgeous grounds and a brand-new looking building. We checked out the game room, with a couple of pool tables, and they have a towering indoor climbing wall on site. The facility almost made me wish we lived in Federal Way. ;)

The leisure pool had a fun 'stream' with a pretty powerful current, to hear the kids tell it.

There was also a two-story slide, which they made many a trip down.

GEOGRAPHIC:  This afternoon we had loads of fun and brushed up on our geography playing "The Scrambled States of America" card game. 

photo: Gamewright.com

It really is fun for all ages. Eight thumbs up from the MPA crowd, especially me, since I won. :)

FREE TICKETS:  Get 'em while they're hot! This Saturday Sept. 27, 2014) is the annual Museum Day Live!, a chance to get into a museum near you for free courtesy of the Smithsonian!

Per the event Web site: "In the spirit of Smithsonian Museums, who offer free admission everyday, Museum Day Live! is an annual event hosted by Smithsonian magazine in which participating museums across the country open their doors to anyone presenting a Museum Day Live! ticket… for free."

It's as easy as going to this Web site:  http://www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/
From there, click on 'register' and then pick your state and museum and before you know it, you'll be downloading your tix!  We chose the Experience Music Project, because we always like to rock 'n' roll. :)

SEASON ENDER: Last night, like so many other nights this summer, the kids slept out on the roofdeck.

Last night, unlike so many other nights this summer, the kids got rained on. Twice.

Fall is here and the cots and sleeping bags are coming in for the season. 

We're already looking forward to next summer. :)