Sockkitten Cuteness

Because there are some on my f'list who respond to such imagery with much squeeage.

This is for them.

Courtesy of Cute Overload.

Hoping For Some Compassion ...

NASA Sets Team to Review Astronaut Mental Healthcare
Jeanna Bryner
Staff Writer
SPACE.com
Mon Mar 26, 5:30 PM ET
Prompted by the arrest of now ex-astronaut Lisa Nowak, NASA has announced the committee members who will review the mental and other health services available to astronauts.
The committee, announced today, will review NASA's current healthcare systems and medical policies, standards and certifications for astronauts. In April, committee members are scheduled to travel to the Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston to review documents and interview personnel, including astronauts, involved in the agency's spaceflight program, NASA said.
Chairing the group of external experts will be Air Force Col. Richard E. Bachmann, who studies aerospace medicine and has provided medical support to people who work in extreme environments like that in space.
Nowak, a 43-year-old mother of three, was arrested on Feb. 5 after allegedly driving 900 miles from Houston to the Orlando airport, where police say she confronted and pepper-sprayed Air Force Capt. Colleen Shipman, girlfriend of space shuttle pilot William Oefelein, whom she viewed as a romantic rival for the astronaut's affections.
Immediately following the incident, Nowak was charged with attempted first-degree murder, attempted kidnapping and three other criminal acts. The charges were later downgraded and Florida prosecutors have entered charges for kidnapping. Nowak's lawyers have formally entered a not guilty plea and the trial is expected to begin on July 30.
Meanwhile, the space agency removed Nowak's flight status and in collaboration with the U.S. Navy, they ousted her from NASA's astronaut corps. The seeming "breakdown" of an astronaut also spurred the space agency to look into how they screen astronauts for both mental and physical health as well as services available to astronauts during their careers.
The other external members of the newly-formed committee include:
Air Force Col. Timothy Sowin, a neuropsychiatrist James R. Fraser, an expert in aerospace medicine from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Retired Navy Capt. Sandra Yerkes, a clinical psychiatrist Mark Bauer, a clinical psychiatrist from the Veteran's Administration Elizabeth Holmes, a clinical psychologist from the U.S. Naval Academy James Bagian, a former NASA astronaut physician and an expert in aerospace medicine and patient safety from the Veteran's Administration Navy Capt. Paul M. DeLaney, an expert in medical legal matters and medical privacy legislation
Ellen Baker, a current NASA astronaut physician, will serve as a consultant to the team. Also, serving as "ex officio" members will be James M. Duncan, the NASA chief of Space Medicine at JSC, and Wayne Frazier of NASA's Office of Safety and Mission Assurance.
In June, the committee is expected to report their findings to Richard S. Williams, NASA's chief health and medical officer, who will look over the review and report the findings to NASA Administrator Michael Griffin.

*    *    *

Even though the original incident did seem rather more astonishing, and some would say even humourous, nonetheless the charges are deadly serious, and the prognosis for Lisa Nowak is pretty damn grim, even with a good defence team.
But the hardest thing to swallow is just how quickly NASA dumped her when the press began to report on her apparent mental instability.
One could argue that the stressor which sent her tumbling over the edge was her piloting a billion dollars' worth of low orbiting bottle rocket - in which case, NASA could well be to blame in this. Which means that their actions over the next few weeks and months, until the conclusion of this case, will be noted by any future would-be astronauts.
And if their actions should want for compassion, then what signal would that send to the next generation of potential Neil Armstrongs? "Join us, let us send you nuts and then leave you to twist in the wind"?
More than ever, NASA have got to start showing a human side. After all, they are supposed to be leading the way for The Last Great Human Endeavour - to explore The Void, not to conquer it.

Countdown to The Long Quiet

The forum at Shadownessence will be closing down in less than 24 hours. It won't be available for the rest of the week, possibly longer, depending on how long the site's owner Mortekai will take to build the new site up and bring it live online.

Personally, I do a lot of my online socialising there, moreso even than on here. I will be suffering tremendous withdrawal symptoms for the time the site will be down, a period I'm already calling "The Long Quiet", a period of time akin to when a vessel orbiting Earth's Moon enters radio silence as it swings behind Luna and, on entering its shadow, gets cut off from Earth.

I'll feel like the poor astronaut on that spaceship, waiting through the seemingly interminable dark and quiet, waiting for the glory of the anticipated Earthrise.

BUT during this quiet time I'll still be here, just as entertaining and as colourful as ever. :)