Home from The Outback!
The girls and I ventured to the honest to goodness Outback of Australia!! Why, you ask? To meet up with Mark, I say. Why was he there and not us, you ask? To launch a scramjet, of course, I say! Did it launch, you ask? Not yet, I say. When will it launch, you ask? ok, this has got to be annoying as all ^*(% to be reading!!
The HyCause team went to Woomera on May 24th expecting a launch within a few days or so. I'd guess they estimated that they were 98% ready for a launch, but the last 2% has been a real struggle for them. It is a highly complex collaboration between several teams to get this baby launched! The girls and I flew to Adelaide on Wednesday, June 6th. As of Saturday, June 9th, the launch had been postponed until Wednesday June 13th, so we headed home to Brisbane. The girls have end of term 2 exams and projects. Even though their teachers and administrators were keen to have them witness the launch and were accommodating in being flexible with deadlines....we just felt it was better to head home.
While we were there, we really did have a wonderful time. Little old Woomera (a town purposefully built for support of the rocket testing range of the 1950's) has a lot to offer!! We enjoyed fellowship with the other families who ventured to Woomera in anticipation of the launch. We made a day trip to Andamooka (a VERY rustic opal mining town). We experienced the vast and awe inspiring cloudless night time star show!! I've described it to others as a chance to appreciate what a good job the planetariums have done to represent our view from space, but at the same time realize that there is NO WAY they can come close to duplicating what you can see with your bare eyes when viewed far FAR from any cities!!! The Milky way is clearly visible. The Southern Cross constellation is hard to find (in contrast with being in the city) because there are a bazillion more stars that you have to sort through to find it.
The 5 hour drive to and from Woomera was actually very pleasant. The first 3 hours out of Adelaide was striking, because of how green everything was! (In Brisbane we are in the midst of a lengthy drought) Of course we had to also begin to adjust to the much colder temps. Brrrr! we arrived to 57 degrees (unlike Brisbane that consistently reaches the mid-70's). You know though, the entire time we really didn't mind the chilly/cold temps--it was a taste of home! The last 2 hours to Woomera, the outback was revealed to us. Fortunately (and a rarity) we were viewing the sunburnt near middle of Australia after it had received record breaking rains back in January. So the scenery was a curious mix of greenery and red earth---GORGEOUS!!!
That pretty much sums up our experience in THE OUTBACK!! I'll try to load pics/video clips (as soon as I have a break from running the girls :D ) I'll also let you know WHEN the scramjet launches!
Hugs and kisses to you all!!! (only 9 days until the Whybrew's arrive! and 20 days until the Johnson's and Mom arrive!! Will anyone else be put on our countdown to arrival list??????)
The HyCause team went to Woomera on May 24th expecting a launch within a few days or so. I'd guess they estimated that they were 98% ready for a launch, but the last 2% has been a real struggle for them. It is a highly complex collaboration between several teams to get this baby launched! The girls and I flew to Adelaide on Wednesday, June 6th. As of Saturday, June 9th, the launch had been postponed until Wednesday June 13th, so we headed home to Brisbane. The girls have end of term 2 exams and projects. Even though their teachers and administrators were keen to have them witness the launch and were accommodating in being flexible with deadlines....we just felt it was better to head home.
While we were there, we really did have a wonderful time. Little old Woomera (a town purposefully built for support of the rocket testing range of the 1950's) has a lot to offer!! We enjoyed fellowship with the other families who ventured to Woomera in anticipation of the launch. We made a day trip to Andamooka (a VERY rustic opal mining town). We experienced the vast and awe inspiring cloudless night time star show!! I've described it to others as a chance to appreciate what a good job the planetariums have done to represent our view from space, but at the same time realize that there is NO WAY they can come close to duplicating what you can see with your bare eyes when viewed far FAR from any cities!!! The Milky way is clearly visible. The Southern Cross constellation is hard to find (in contrast with being in the city) because there are a bazillion more stars that you have to sort through to find it.
The 5 hour drive to and from Woomera was actually very pleasant. The first 3 hours out of Adelaide was striking, because of how green everything was! (In Brisbane we are in the midst of a lengthy drought) Of course we had to also begin to adjust to the much colder temps. Brrrr! we arrived to 57 degrees (unlike Brisbane that consistently reaches the mid-70's). You know though, the entire time we really didn't mind the chilly/cold temps--it was a taste of home! The last 2 hours to Woomera, the outback was revealed to us. Fortunately (and a rarity) we were viewing the sunburnt near middle of Australia after it had received record breaking rains back in January. So the scenery was a curious mix of greenery and red earth---GORGEOUS!!!
That pretty much sums up our experience in THE OUTBACK!! I'll try to load pics/video clips (as soon as I have a break from running the girls :D ) I'll also let you know WHEN the scramjet launches!
Hugs and kisses to you all!!! (only 9 days until the Whybrew's arrive! and 20 days until the Johnson's and Mom arrive!! Will anyone else be put on our countdown to arrival list??????)
posted by LHagen at
1:05 AM
1 Comments:
still love to hear about your adventures Lori.Sounds like you are having fun hope you and the family are well.Keep up the good work and I am looking foward to the next installment of your adventures and happenings of your family.d
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Anonymous, at Tuesday, June 12, 2007
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