Yes Diceman, the original platforms have been modified from time to time but the shuttles electronics gets upgrades very often. And depending on the different threat levels we start launching tons of rockets on the other side of the cape and modifications an payloads on ours. It's amazing how many weather satellites we put up. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> It's always nice to know what the weather is every day around the world. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
It is fun working out there but there is way too much politics and very unstable. Like any DOD job we are always going through layoffs and hirings, I have lost over 20 years in this business and look back and not much to show for it, sometimes I had wished I got into a more stable industry.I've had a great run, but have been exposed to lots of chemicals, payloads and propellants. Every once in awhile I get to meet a visitor or two. Here's one of John Travolta when he came by, I'm like waldo in the back.
John Travolta, Ron Howard and Tom Hanks are 3 of the nicest people I've met, Bruce Willis on the other hand is a real prick. When Bruce Willis was filming Armigideon out there he was real rude to everybody and wouldn't even sign our mobile launch platform because Tom Hanks name was on it. He wanted to go gambling on the cruise ship at the port but the boat had left so he went over to the coast guard office (He had stared in one of those movies about the coast guard)and they carried him on one of there interceptors and pulled the gambling ship over and let him off on the ship. Goes to show you what money and fame can do.