Last week Jake left us in the good company of Sarah and Leah and headed off to Hunstville, AL where he continued testing and integration of the James Webb Space Telescope. While this blog has largely dedicated itself to Xander (go figure) it is fun to share some of the neat things his parents are doing too!
Ball Aerospace Ships James Webb Space Telescope Mirror Segments to Marshall Space Flight Center
January 06, 2010: 05:02 PM ET
BOULDER, Colo., Jan. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. has shipped five James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) beryllium primary mirror segments as well as the engineering development unit (EDU) to Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala., for cryogenic temperature testing.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100106/LA33512)
Following completion of the six-mirror test in March 2010, nine of the 18 James Webb primary mirror segments will have successfully completed the first of two cryogenic temperature tests required for each mirror at Marshall's X-Ray and Cryogenic Facility (XRCF). The first XRCF test measures distortion of each mirror surface as it cools from room temperature to the Webb telescope's on-orbit operating temperature of approximately 45 K (-380 deg F). This surface distortion is mapped and subsequently removed in the final mirror polishing operations. The second XRCF test performed on each mirror will verify that the warm-to-cold surface distortion has been properly removed in final polishing.
Ball Aerospace is the principal optical subcontractor for the JWST program, led by prime contractor Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, under contract to NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Ball is responsible for developing the telescope optics, including the 18 mirror beryllium segment assemblies that comprise the primary mirror. The primary mirror EDU was cryogenically tested for the first time at the Alabama facility earlier this year and returned to Ball's polishing subcontractor, L-3 SSG-Tinsley, for final polishing. The other five mirrors at Marshall are being prepared for their first cryogenic test scheduled to begin in January 2010. All of the remaining JWST flight mirror segments are in various stages of assembly and test as the observatory continues toward a scheduled launch in 2014.
"We are pleased to continue steady progress for the Webb's optical structure," said Cary Ludtke, vice president and general manager for the Ball Aerospace Civil and Operational Space strategic business unit. "To meet these benchmarks in the methodical and exhaustive testing for JWST's cryogenic design is very satisfying."
The Webb's 6.6-meter beryllium primary mirror is critical for future infrared observations. Each of the 18 hexagonal-shaped mirror assemblies that make up the primary mirror measures more than 1.3 meters across, and weighs approximately 40 kilograms, or 88 pounds, after light-weighting. The temperature testing process for all eighteen JWST primary mirror segments will continue through 2011.
In addition to the primary mirror assemblies, Ball Aerospace is making significant progress on the secondary, tertiary and fine steering mirror assemblies as well as the aft optics bench that supports the tertiary and fine steering mirrors in the telescope.
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope will be the premier observatory of the next decade. It will study every phase in the history of our Universe, ranging from the first luminous glows after the Big Bang, to the formation of our solar systems capable of supporting life on planets like Earth, to the evolution of our own Solar System.
Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. supports critical missions of important national agencies such as the Department of Defense, NASA, NOAA and other U.S. government and commercial entities. The company develops and manufactures spacecraft, advanced instruments and sensors, components, data exploitation systems and RF solutions for strategic, tactical and scientific applications. For more information visit www.ballaerospace.com.
Ball Corporation (NYSE: BLL) is a supplier of high-quality metal and plastic packaging for beverage, food and household products customers, and of aerospace and other technologies and services, primarily for the U.S. government. Ball Corporation and its subsidiaries employ more than 14,500 people worldwide and reported 2008 sales of approximately $7.6 billion.
Once at the hostpital the doctors and nurses measured Xander's O2 levels and they were low. When he napped, they dropped lower. Xander was diagnosed with RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus). We don't know where he got it, but it is pretty contagious, and the #1 reason kids are admitted to the hospital this time of year. RSV generally only produces cold-like symptoms in babies and adults and doesn't require any speicial treatment, but in some babies, can cause bronchiolitis (lung inflamation), pneumonia, and ear infections. Xander unfortunately had a moderately severe case, resulting in bronchiolitis and a double ear infection. 
In the ER, they kept him on Oxygen and Albuterol and after spending the day there with no sign of sustained improvement in his oxygen saturation levels, Xander was admitted. We spent 3.5 days and 2 nights at the hospital in all. The staff at Strong Memorial hospital was excellent, and took very good care of us. For most of the time we had a private room (RSV kids are quarentined) and only had to share the last night with another RSV baby. The crib was big enough to allow me to sleep with Xander, which I did of necessity, because the Albuterol made him hyper, he was tethered to monitors and oxygen, and clingy and anxious about all the pokes and checks. I've got to give the kid credit though- given everything, he was so good! Jess's parents took on extra duty with Ella so Jess could be by my side and give me breaks for things like showers. Jess was such a huge help and source of support, I can't ever thank her enough. We also had visits from friends Michelle and Linda who brought us goodies, friendship and comfort. Jake and I talked frequently, each time deciding that he should not fly out; Xander and I were in good hands, and would be home soon. 
After being released, we spent an extra 48 hours in Rochester to make sure Xander was well enough to travel, which finally allowed me to spend some fun time with Ella and Jess and her parents in a more relaxed setting. We played a few games, gave Xander a bath, rested, and made plans to head home. Ella is growing into a remarkable young lady and is the only 9 year old I've ever met who refers to Heliotropes in casual conversation. We cancelled the rest of our trip, preferring to go home and see Jake, but I was able to arrange a long layover in Charlotte so Xander and I could visit briefly with my parents and sister Meg and her family, and have dinner together. 
Today we went to the Butterfly Pavilion because they were having a free day in celebration of 15 years of operation. The place was packed, but we got plenty of time with close-ups, and they had lots of butterflies ready for release that day. Xander especially liked the spiders, but anything that he could get a close look at was pretty great.... even the dung beetles. 
Can you believe a butterfly landed on my hand? I coaxed it to my finger just in time for our friend Martha to snap a photo!
According to most websites and advice columns I've read, babies usually get up on their hands and knees around 5 months, then learn to rock, then army crawl, and finally learn a proper crawl sometime before 10 months. In Xander's case, he went straight to the army crawl just before Christmas, and then on his 9 month birthday, after spending several days watching Jackson and Leah, just decided to crawl- proficiently- with little in the way of precursers or practice. The kid crawls. Everywhere. 
