I found this pretty cool Infographic below about the Space Shuttle (via Space.com).
I like to remember and share the special time I spent working in the Space Shuttle program. It was an awesome program, people, and manned-space transportation system. One of the coolest areas of the whole system is the Launch Pad, and the little room called the White Room; scroll down towards the middle of the Infographic and you will see where it is located. Back in STS-60 I had the chance to spend time up there in the White Room (Launch Pad 39A) while Discovery was being prepared for the following day’s launch — a cool February morning.
A good summary of my time in the space program is documented here: Looking back at the Space Shuttle Program. And a short video that I took of the last Space Shuttle launch is here: Launch of STS-135 Atlantis (final mission of the Space Shuttle); you can see/listen and feel everyone’s excitement. Some of my last contributions to the Space Shuttle included the I/O profile design in support of GPS (which displaced TACANs) and preliminary work towards the very cool Glass Cockpit, photographed below.
My brother (who still works at NASA) was chief engineer for the heat tiles (thermal protection system or TPS). We both are Silver Snoopy recipients for our contributions to the manned space program; I am not sure how many brothers are there who have received a Silver Snoopy and/or who have worked together on the same space mission (I bet very few!).
Awesome times, and great memories… there is nothing like the space program (private or not).
Godspeed to the next generation of Astronauts, and to the private and government-funded space programs. And I may sound biased here, but I cannot wait to see Blue Origin (which I almost joined back in 2005) and its New Shepard make it to space.
Source Space.com: All about our solar system, outer space and exploration
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