Wed, Aug 23, 2006
Methinks Jeffrey Doth Said Too Much
Just ask Senior Editor Pete Combs about this one... when you
make your living in radio, you quickly learn the potential dangers
of a "hot" microphone -- one that unexpectedly carries a message to
the masses that you'd really rather not have out there just
yet.
True, that's probably one lesson that isn't taught to astronauts
at NASA, as they've got enough on their plates as it is... but
perhaps the space agency should consider adding it, considering US
astronaut Jeffrey Williams let slip a rather significant secret on
Tuesday, one that NASA didn't want to get out just yet.
It all started while Williams recorded a broadcast from the
International Space Station Tuesday that was supposed to go
direct-to-tape... but it turns out the message was going out in
real-time, too, over space-to-ground radio.
And what was that message? The official name of the crew
exploration vehicle, which is... Orion.
NASA had intended for that information to become public
knowledge on August 31.. the same time the agency is set to
announce which contractor has been selected to build the
vehicle.
That information, alas, is still up the air -- with teams from
Lockheed Martin, and another comprised of a partnership between
Northrop Grumman and Boeing, waiting patiently for the news
-- but at least both teams now have a name for the spacecraft
they hope to begin building soon.
And as for astronaut William's fledgling career in public
relations radio... well, you know what they say. Don't call
us... we'll call you.
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