[X] My Assistant

[djellison]

http://astronomy.ie/lecture200902.html

It would be great to see any of you who can make it.

[ngunn]

I can't make it unfortunately, but how are you travelling to Dublin? Via Holyhead by any chance?

[Guest_PhilCo126_*]

Any chance this will be recorded and put on YouTube later ?

[djellison]

Not You Tube - Astronomy Ireland generate a few quid by selling talks on DVD.

And I'll be using one of those fancy metal bird things, out of East Midlands Airport. Hopefully. If the snow doesn't ruin EVERYTHING.

[helvick]

Well I'll be there, assuming that the current delay that is keeping me in Madrid Airport doesn't turn into a full blown cancellation. Now there are far worse places to be stuck than Madrid I have to admit but I really don't want to miss Doug Live!.

[ngunn]

I'll be using one of those fancy metal bird things, out of East Midlands Airport. Hopefully. If the snow doesn't ruin EVERYTHING.

Well the ferry's running normally I believe, likewise the Holyhead pubs.

helvick - Madrid? That's a terrible place to wait for a ferry.

[ElkGroveDan]

Well I'll be there,

Sounds like fun. Do me a favor and give Doug a good handshake when you see him so he can pass it on when I see him in California next month. Doug, give him a pat on the back for me and I'll pay you back when you get here.

[djellison]

rgr that. Problem is - I've got 40 minutes to give my talk. Last night I did the same talk. 90 minutes. Anyone got an axe?

[lyford]

Do 40 and then include the rest in the extended mission profile.....

And are you coming to California? Or did ElkGroveDan let slip confidential info?

[djellison]

Only very very briefly, there wont be time for a big meet up I'm afraid - but one of the things I'll be doing is a talk that the public will be able to come to - at quite a nice venue. More details when the details are confirmed. Early Evening, Tue March 17th

[Guest_Enceladus75_*]

I plan to be there. Hope to meet up afterwards Doug.

[djellison]

Contrary to the website, I will not be on the radio today - because I don't actually get to Dublin till 2 hrs after the show ends

[djellison]

The departures lounge of East Midlands Airport really is rather dull. But hey - I just got to see an Antonov 125 land, and fingers crossed the 225 (Buran's old carrier aircraft ) is at the end of the apron as it was the last time I flew from here.

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[nprev]

I dunno if this is OT or not, but gotta ask: What the heck would an An-225 be doing ANYWHERE? That thing is just massive; seems odd to just use its internal cargo capacity alone given the fact that it's gotta feed six, count 'em, six engines to go places.

It just can't be cheap to run by any stretch. Did they develop an overhead cargo module?

[djellison]

They tend to use it to transport crazy stuff - like power station turbines, trains, big huge stuff. I think when Helen and I saw it at East Midlands Airport ( here - http://maps.google.co.uk/?ie=UTF8&ll=5...mp;t=h&z=17 ) it was doing humanitarian work. Nothing beats 250,000kg of aid in one hit. I saw a documentary about taking it from a decommissioned state in Russia, and returning it to flight, to turn a profit as a heavy lift cargo carrier. It's so popular, they're finishing the second one to flight status in 2010. I know the Thrust SSC team used a 125 to shift EVERYTHING they needed for their record attempt in Black Rock, back in 1997 (and another two trips to Jordan as well).

I don't think it's carried anything overhead since Buran - just biblical internal cargo. Bigger than an A380 I just learnt. Wow.