I spent the week at Marshall Space Flight Center, as I often do, but this time, rather than testing mirrors I helped unload them from the cryo-vac test chamber.  This concludes test number 4, and leaves us just over a year left until Primary Mirror Testing is complete on the James Webb Space Telescope. 
I see these mirrors almost every day, but still every time deal with these mirrors it blow me away how awesome JWST is; how great the team is, and how much careful thought went into the science …

Tonight, the day after Thanksgiving, I sit in my living room and listen to the world going to sleep thinking over the past couple wonderful days to those things I am most thankful for, and I begin to write.
 
My family. You are amazing. I tell you this whenever I can, but truly, you are the most amazing people, and the fact that I get to call you family makes my heart sing. You taught me all my first lessons, nurtured my first curiosities, and showed me how to quest for …

 
I wrote a note to all of you a few weeks ago. I was feeling really lost, and wanted some direction from the universe. Although I wasn’t asking for them I got some amazing replies. Thanks you!
I’m writing again to let you know of some great developments in my life, some changes that have shown me along the right direction.
I’ve decided to take the winter off to spend time with my Grandpa back in Oregon. No he’s not dying, or even sick, but he’s 87 and I miss him. I …