NASA Tradition??

[livestrong33]

I was watching NASA tv the other day...and I came acroos footage of the mission control center, and there were all the flight controllers, i think, hanging out in there. I believe they were taking a picture, and the commentator went on to say that this was some type of tradition. I didn't hear everything he said. What kind of tradition is this? And did anyone else catch that footage, or know if it will be seen again? Thanks!

 

[spacefire]

was heavy drinking involved? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>http://asteroid-invasion.blogspot.com</p><p>http://www.solvengineer.com/asteroid-invasion.html </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[askold]

I saw that too. <br /><br />Apparently, they designate one of the control positions for a sort of MVP award after each flight.<br /><br />I didn't catch exactly what the criteria for the award were. I lost interest when it was clear that heavy drinking was not involved ...

 

[earth_bound_misfit]

Hows the old '60s footage of MCC, where their all smoking. MCC must've smelt like a public bar in those days. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p><p>----------------------------------------------------------------- </p><p>Wanna see this site looking like the old SDC uplink?</p><p>Go here to see how: <strong>SDC Eye saver </strong>  </p> </div>

 

[drwayne]

When I was fresh out of graduate school, I got a job working with a couple of ex-MSFC guys in a small company. They were your classic chain smokers. Go into a meeting in a conference room, come out in an hour (or two), and you could look in the doorway and see the edge of the smoke layer a couple of feet off of the floor.<br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[drwayne]

I would get home from work, and get in the shower, and realize I smelled something stale - it was me, the odor of cigarettes.<br /><br />I didn't fit in to well, I didn't smoke, and didn't like to go to lunch, get drunk, and never go back. Yes, I was mentally ill.<br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[mrmorris]

<font color="yellow">" Yes, I was mentally ill. "</font><br /><br />Past tense? <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[livestrong33]

So does anyone know what the tradition is? I don't think it has anything to do with cigars. And one more thing...how elite are flight directors in terms of the NASA hierarchy. Are they pretty high up there..or not really.

 

[john_316]

Yeah but think about this one too:<br /><br />I went into the Navy during the Reagan Era and it was just starting ot transform in Bush Sr and Clintons era.<br /><br />We had tons of the 'old school' drunkin sailors in which I was indoctrunated. But as things progressed the old was going away and the new was coming in...<br /><br />The traditions are slowly watered down to nothing and the new ones are nornally quite stupid...<br /><br />Its all about this PC BS and trust me I aint no PC person...<br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />

 

[erioladastra]

This is called hanging the plaque and one of the highest honors for a flight controller. For each mission there is 1-2 plaques (for an ISS one you have the STS one and then the ISS mission - e.g., we just had STS 114 and LF1.1). After the flight the teams get together. The flight director thanks all those that contributed in a special way. The team (note, not generally a person but a team) that did the most outstanding job hangs th plaque. The team that was second so to speak in support gets to (symbolically) hold the ladder for the first person (usually the team lead) as the plaque is hung. This is very special to flight controllers. The ISS team this flight decided to perserve the gap between shuttle missions on the wall showing that ISS operations and increment operations continued during the down time after Columbia.

 

[livestrong33]

Thanks Erio. Cool tradition. Anyone know who got the honors this mission?

 

[erioladastra]

ROBO and EVA, understandably.