I think I interrupted it during some kind of dirt bath meditation ritual, it was not digging, just rolling around in my flower pot with no other discernible purpose, but who knows with #squirrels.

Reply to I think I interrupted it during some kind of dirt bath meditation ritual, it was not digging, just rolling around in my flower pot with no other discernible purpose, but who knows with #squirrels. on Sat, 04 Apr 2026 19:51:17 GMT

lizette603_23@mastodon.social — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 19:51:17 GMT

@Trilobyter My dad was also from the WW2 era....Navy man, taciturn to a fault. I get that. I'm sure his emotions were very real and stayed where he put them.
I love anything to do with space that isn't insulting to my intelligence, especially if it's intentionally silly. That's big fun. Takes some of the scarey what if's out of space exploration. Yeah, I would think that those shows or movies that try to depict accurately are frustrating for you to watch, knowing what you know.

Reply to I think I interrupted it during some kind of dirt bath meditation ritual, it was not digging, just rolling around in my flower pot with no other discernible purpose, but who knows with #squirrels. on Sat, 04 Apr 2026 19:45:35 GMT

trilobyter@mastodon.world — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 19:45:35 GMT

@Lizette603_23 no I’ve not done any such consulting but the better “space” shows do use them. It’s sometimes difficult for me to suspend disbelief & enjoy if it’s a show that is trying to be realistic but (for me at least) failing to do so. The more fantasy type sci-fi space shows are often easier to swallow in that regard. My dad, well he was from that emotionally minimalist/taciturn WW2/Korean War generation, but I know he was pleased I ended up working in the space program.

Reply to I think I interrupted it during some kind of dirt bath meditation ritual, it was not digging, just rolling around in my flower pot with no other discernible purpose, but who knows with #squirrels. on Sat, 04 Apr 2026 19:38:09 GMT

lizette603_23@mastodon.social — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 19:38:09 GMT

@Trilobyter I'm so amazed to be able to talk to someone who over the decades has worked with an organization that's given humanity SO MUCH....in the medical field, in almost every way....heck, Memory foam!! Water filtration! MRIs fcs!! I mean, you are a major part of all of our histories.

Reply to I think I interrupted it during some kind of dirt bath meditation ritual, it was not digging, just rolling around in my flower pot with no other discernible purpose, but who knows with #squirrels. on Sat, 04 Apr 2026 19:34:41 GMT

lizette603_23@mastodon.social — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 19:34:41 GMT

@Trilobyter Were you inclined more toward the Orion work or is that just how it happened?

Reply to I think I interrupted it during some kind of dirt bath meditation ritual, it was not digging, just rolling around in my flower pot with no other discernible purpose, but who knows with #squirrels. on Sat, 04 Apr 2026 19:31:28 GMT

trilobyter@mastodon.world — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 19:31:28 GMT

@Lizette603_23 In 2006 after Lockheed Martin was awarded the Orion contract I and some of my other SAIL colleagues were recruited to help develop a similar facility for the Orion. I worked on both initially but after a year or so I became full time on Orion, and kept going till my retirement this week. Of course during those years the Constellation program was cancelled but the Orion part remained in development, and eventually became part of the lunar-focused Artemis program.

Reply to I think I interrupted it during some kind of dirt bath meditation ritual, it was not digging, just rolling around in my flower pot with no other discernible purpose, but who knows with #squirrels. on Sat, 04 Apr 2026 19:27:54 GMT

lizette603_23@mastodon.social — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 19:27:54 GMT

@Trilobyter In an entirely different context I spent a few weeks working next to a retired astronaut or two, and their approach to everything seems quite different than the average Joe. Did you find that part easy or not so easy? I'm not mentioning names, I'm just curious how it is to work with people who are involved in something you know the inner workings of so intimately in one way and they in another.

Reply to I think I interrupted it during some kind of dirt bath meditation ritual, it was not digging, just rolling around in my flower pot with no other discernible purpose, but who knows with #squirrels. on Sat, 04 Apr 2026 19:23:21 GMT

lizette603_23@mastodon.social — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 19:23:21 GMT

@Trilobyter wow. you "flew"!!!!!!!!!!

Reply to I think I interrupted it during some kind of dirt bath meditation ritual, it was not digging, just rolling around in my flower pot with no other discernible purpose, but who knows with #squirrels. on Sat, 04 Apr 2026 19:22:10 GMT

trilobyter@mastodon.world — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 19:22:10 GMT

@Lizette603_23 In the SAIL we tested the electronics & software, ‘flying” full mission simulations, often with astronauts in our cockpit. The final step of systems integration testing done before each mission flew. So then the Columbia tragedy happened and in the aftermath they decided to bring the Shuttle program to an end - though it kept flying for many more years. But with that there was the initiation of the Constellation program and the Orion spacecraft was the crew-carrying part of that.

Reply to I think I interrupted it during some kind of dirt bath meditation ritual, it was not digging, just rolling around in my flower pot with no other discernible purpose, but who knows with #squirrels. on Sat, 04 Apr 2026 19:19:51 GMT

lizette603_23@mastodon.social — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 19:19:51 GMT

@Trilobyter I used to live just up the road from JPL

Reply to I think I interrupted it during some kind of dirt bath meditation ritual, it was not digging, just rolling around in my flower pot with no other discernible purpose, but who knows with #squirrels. on Sat, 04 Apr 2026 19:18:37 GMT

lizette603_23@mastodon.social — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 19:18:37 GMT

@Trilobyter I'm envisioning it all. I was that star struck kid watching the first launches.
I've wondered if recent "space" tv show and movies have any valid representation of fact or even lingo. I certainly recall just about everything you wrote here from a few of them, so I guess that means someone consults with them who has expertise. I don't suppose you do that do you?
Was your dad a good teacher?
Wow, and entire shuttle RIGHT THERE

Reply to I think I interrupted it during some kind of dirt bath meditation ritual, it was not digging, just rolling around in my flower pot with no other discernible purpose, but who knows with #squirrels. on Sat, 04 Apr 2026 19:15:54 GMT

trilobyter@mastodon.world — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 19:15:54 GMT

@Lizette603_23 so the longish version, I grew up around the Johnson Space Center, my dad work on Apollo from its early days. So I more or less followed in his footsteps, started working Space Shuttle in the late ‘80s in JSC’s Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory (SAIL), which was a high fidelity engineering & test simulator, what is called an “iron bird” - basically a complete set of Shuttle computers, avionics, cockpit, middeck, payload bay, laid out in a warehouse sized building.

Reply to I think I interrupted it during some kind of dirt bath meditation ritual, it was not digging, just rolling around in my flower pot with no other discernible purpose, but who knows with #squirrels. on Sat, 04 Apr 2026 19:02:07 GMT

lizette603_23@mastodon.social — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 19:02:07 GMT

@Trilobyter My first question is about how you found yourself on the Artemis project

Reply to I think I interrupted it during some kind of dirt bath meditation ritual, it was not digging, just rolling around in my flower pot with no other discernible purpose, but who knows with #squirrels. on Sat, 04 Apr 2026 19:01:31 GMT

lizette603_23@mastodon.social — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 19:01:31 GMT

@Trilobyter You're the best, and I will try to accrue a list rather than 50 million randoms! I used to keep my camera on my knee with my finger on the trigger when sitting in the woods. Or even walking....once a full buck burst out of the woods behind me as I crossed a trail and it happened so fast, but my hand was ready on the camera at my side...raised it clicked and got him midair all feet together! What a thrill.

Reply to I think I interrupted it during some kind of dirt bath meditation ritual, it was not digging, just rolling around in my flower pot with no other discernible purpose, but who knows with #squirrels. on Sat, 04 Apr 2026 18:59:30 GMT

trilobyter@mastodon.world — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 18:59:30 GMT

@Lizette603_23 well I suddenly find myself with all sorts of spare time, right now I’m just sitting on the front porch with one of the dogs & my camera (never know what’s going to turn up, with the flowers starting to bloom the butterflies & bees & hummingbirds are starting to appear - and a hawk just zoomed by about 2 feet off the ground but I didn’t catch it) waiting for the rain that’s promised today (my garden needs it) so sure, ask away, anytime.

Reply to I think I interrupted it during some kind of dirt bath meditation ritual, it was not digging, just rolling around in my flower pot with no other discernible purpose, but who knows with #squirrels. on Sat, 04 Apr 2026 18:45:22 GMT

lizette603_23@mastodon.social — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 18:45:22 GMT

@Trilobyter better prepared than most of us at home! Is it okay if I badger you with questions from time to time?

Reply to I think I interrupted it during some kind of dirt bath meditation ritual, it was not digging, just rolling around in my flower pot with no other discernible purpose, but who knows with #squirrels. on Sat, 04 Apr 2026 18:36:57 GMT

trilobyter@mastodon.world — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 18:36:57 GMT

@Lizette603_23 thanks, yeah from the conversation I heard they didn’t sufficiently “prime the pump” needed for water flow so it triggered warning lights. Was rectified quickly once they understood the cause. But they’re also having issues with the overboard waste water venting due to freezing, it does have heaters that are supposed to prevent but they are additionally going to roll the Orion so the vent is in the sun & hopefully that will thaw it. But they also have backup baggies if needed.

Reply to I think I interrupted it during some kind of dirt bath meditation ritual, it was not digging, just rolling around in my flower pot with no other discernible purpose, but who knows with #squirrels. on Sat, 04 Apr 2026 17:39:31 GMT

lizette603_23@mastodon.social — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 17:39:31 GMT

@Nead It's apt!!! @Trilobyter

Reply to I think I interrupted it during some kind of dirt bath meditation ritual, it was not digging, just rolling around in my flower pot with no other discernible purpose, but who knows with #squirrels. on Sat, 04 Apr 2026 17:36:54 GMT

nead@social.vivaldi.net — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 17:36:54 GMT

@Lizette603_23 @Trilobyter I am so going to use that going forward. "you are SO squirreled"

Reply to I think I interrupted it during some kind of dirt bath meditation ritual, it was not digging, just rolling around in my flower pot with no other discernible purpose, but who knows with #squirrels. on Sat, 04 Apr 2026 16:57:44 GMT

lizette603_23@mastodon.social — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 16:57:44 GMT

@Trilobyter PS congrats on the Artemis II. thus far, other than a small crapper incident, it looks mighty successful. Thank you for your contribution.

Reply to I think I interrupted it during some kind of dirt bath meditation ritual, it was not digging, just rolling around in my flower pot with no other discernible purpose, but who knows with #squirrels. on Sat, 04 Apr 2026 16:56:20 GMT

lizette603_23@mastodon.social — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 16:56:20 GMT

@Trilobyter Better informed than squirreled to death

Reply to I think I interrupted it during some kind of dirt bath meditation ritual, it was not digging, just rolling around in my flower pot with no other discernible purpose, but who knows with #squirrels. on Sat, 04 Apr 2026 16:32:23 GMT

trilobyter@mastodon.world — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 16:32:23 GMT

@Lizette603_23 so that’s what that was. Well the joke’s on it, no more me, no more daily backyard peanuts & dried corn (my spouse is an unreliable provider in that regard).

Reply to I think I interrupted it during some kind of dirt bath meditation ritual, it was not digging, just rolling around in my flower pot with no other discernible purpose, but who knows with #squirrels. on Sat, 04 Apr 2026 16:27:47 GMT

lizette603_23@mastodon.social — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 16:27:47 GMT

@Trilobyter oh. It gave you the death hand motion. Yer done for.

Reply to I think I interrupted it during some kind of dirt bath meditation ritual, it was not digging, just rolling around in my flower pot with no other discernible purpose, but who knows with #squirrels. on Sat, 04 Apr 2026 16:22:49 GMT

guillotine_jones@beige.party — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 16:22:49 GMT

@Trilobyter
Squirrel!
In a flower pot!

Reply to I think I interrupted it during some kind of dirt bath meditation ritual, it was not digging, just rolling around in my flower pot with no other discernible purpose, but who knows with #squirrels. on Sat, 04 Apr 2026 15:42:59 GMT

theosuwb@mastodon.social — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 15:42:59 GMT

@Trilobyter it’s the famous “morning ritual” planning for the day… ️️️ @MAJ1