SUN 26 DEC 1999 VARIETY Space

WEEKLY WHINE

A thoughtful message

So for a while, I've been thinking about just the right way to say happy holidays to you, the faithful [or faithless as the case may be] GoobNet visitor. I could use my own words, but I do enough of that as it is. So instead, I offer a special treat. Astronaut John Grunsfeld, currently on board Discovery as Mission Specialist 3 of STS-103, the 96th Space Shuttle mission, is a good friend of Caltech SEDS. But he also writes some great reports about his activities on the mission. Today I thought I'd share with you something from his third report.

It is a poem written by a friend of astronaut Curt Brown, Commander of STS-103. [Actually, I did a little editing of my own. Check the original to see my changes and then tell me whether you agree.] Here goes:

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE LAUNCH

Twas the minute before launch
And all through the Shuttle
Not a speaker was cracking
With one small rebuttal.

The astronauts were strapped
In their chairs with great care
In hopes they'd soon launch
Way up in the air.

When out in the Gulf
There arose a condition
That would cause a delay
In the time of the mission.

And from Launch Control
A loud voice was heard.
Twas the NASA Test Director
Who uttered these words:

"Now Brown! Now Clervoy!
Now Foale and Kelly!
On Smith! On Nicollier!
On Grunsfeld, get ready!

"A twenty four hour
Delay we will need
To wait for the clouds
And the rain to recede."

They spoke not a word
But went straight on their way
Preparing the orbiter
For another night's stay.

And from inside the cockpit
A loud voice exclaimed,
"Let's light this
#&@$! rocket before Y2K!"