Practice, practice, practice

NASA/Mary Ann Harness and Cory Bartholomew

Here is my new friend Cory Bartholomew posing with a TG-14 motorized glider. It has an engine – see the propeller over Cory’s shoulder? – but it can fly without one. Cory invited me to be his co-pilot for a proficiency flight. That’s a practice run pilots make to keep their skills sharp and their flight certifications current.

NASA/Mary Ann Harness and Cory Bartholomew

We flew over Edwards Air Force Base in southern California, where NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center is located, and the Tehachapi Mountains. The mountains were covered with more wind turbines than I could count!

Traveling in the spirit of a Newfoundland dog that became one of the most famous members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, Seaman Jr. will enjoy the sights of our home planet from the International Space Station,including amazing views of our national trails, in honor of the 50th anniversary of the National Trails Actand NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration 60th anniversary.

The National Park Service and Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail invite you to learn more about Seaman, Jr.’s space journey! Follow his blog (go.nps.gov/NewfieNews) for special updates to see all of the missions in space and flashbacks to his training adventures at NASA centers and on the national trails.