Hi FOLKS!
You enjoying this? GOOD isn't it
So WHO will GO this WEEK? I bet many of you picked them but it was SAD....so onto the TESTS.

THE HYPOXIA (Lack of OXYGEN) - TEST 1

James...WOW! it seems like he lost sight of the ACTUAL TEST & focused more on the math (down to 53% of Oxygen Saturation & to not notice is CRAZY!)
Kerry...SHOCKED she could not tell (she clearly jumped the gun trying to call the signs at the earliest point when there were none)
Tessa...Another Pilot who called it EARLY before any lowering of the Oxygen...WORRYING.
Vijay...Called it EARLY too.

You would think this TEST might be EASY but if 4 out of 6 were CALLING it EARLY then it makes you think perhaps it wasn't?
Although let's be honest you would like to think that you could recognise the difference! but who knows?
VERY SURPRISING RESULTS I thought.

So ONLY 2 called the symptoms...

Tim...He did go quiet a way down but DID signal correctly.
Susie...Did well (a DARK HORSE is she?)


THE CO-OPERATION silent 'PAPER TOWER' - TEST 2

Put into 2 TEAMS of 3.

Kerry, Vijay & Tim versus James, Susie & Tessa

It was interesting to see that Vijay did not agree with Tim (who was PROVED to be RIGHT) well the tower would have won anyway but i think the extra point mentioned & made by Tim was GOOD & IMAGINATIVE & on another day might have proved to have been even more significant.

I LOVED TESSA's note to herself when younger asking was she an ASTRONAUT yet? I hope you make it TESS.
We LEARNED that SUSIE is a real ADVENTURER in Very Difficult to go Places.


THE CENTRIFUGE (G-Force SPIN) - TEST 3

ALL managed the LAUNCH GRAVITIONAL FORCE of 4.5G to ORBIT.
And then the RUSSIAN LANGUAGE came back into effect when they were asked to read back parts of the PANELS in the CENTRIFUGE in this language.

SUSIE got 100% (well HELLO Dark Horse)
Tessa, Tim & Vijay got 85% of the words correct.
Kerry the one i pin-pointed as my favourite made 60% & James managed less than 50%


THE TALK TEST 4

Tim is full of enthusiasm for SPACE & it showed.
James did well too focusing on his subject of Biology.
Vijay & Susie like Tim & James talked about subjects they knew about.

However Kerry & Tessa went off subject & when asked questions about them struggled to come up with answers.

It's at this point that we learned SADLY that TIM had been BULLIED at SCHOOL for being something of a GEEK.
I bet those people that did this might now look at this WONDERFUL FELLA & realise how much BETTER he is to them!

I'M A GEEK that NEVER REALISED he WAS A GEEK but LOVED IT!
Had i done the talk I would have probably SABOTAGED myself & done a presentation delivered DIRECTLY to CHRIS on ALL those things i have DISCOVERED including VIDEO & PHOTOGRAPHIC Evidence & then just WATCHED his FACE & BODY LANGUAGE to see his reaction for I am sure HE knows there are things up there HAPPENING (i would LOVE to hear from someone like him (CLEARLY INTELLIGENT) as to what he thought ALL of these SHAPES & STRUCTURES on PLUTO among other places are? & to explain to me HOW all of these might be NATURAL? if that's what they believed?) of course this would have ended in a hand shake from him & a THANKS but NO THANKS but it would have been worth it i think


So i called it in to my sister before the decision was made as to who would GO?

I thought 2 would again go...Tessa the letter was touching but she & i feel Vijay were now the weakest of the 6.
Although one would now have to say that the shine has gone from both KERRY (BAD 2 weeks) & JAMES.

Got Tessa right but NOT Vijay but I will be SHOCKED if he wins this thing or is not given the hand shake in EPISODE 5.

KERRY is LUCKY but what's interesting is that BOTH she & JAMES recognised they had been a little cocky in having done so well in
previous weeks in which case it is still recoverable for both of them but right now if you were to ask me for the TOP 2?

I'd now put TIM who i LOVE, a wonderful down to earth, caring, helpful & intelligent fella as No 1.
And SUSIE with that background & her expertise has now gone past both Kerry & James for me but it's fairly close between these 4 now.

This is interesting stuff & then BBC2 go & show DARTS next week with ONLY 2 episode's LEFT...Yeah CHEERS for that

Who do i WANT to WIN? Brian Cox SORRY i mean TIM but I have to say I think any of these four (TIM, SUSIE, KERRY & JAMES) would ALL be worthy of becoming ASTRONAUTS but this is DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES...and ONLY 1 will get the CHANCE...so I hope it's TIM (then he & Brian Cox can swap without anyone knowing so Brian can have a few days & weeks in SPACE )

2 WEEKS to WAIT!!!!

Well at least HORIZON is BACK TONIGHT...one of the GREATEST Science DOCUMENTARY Series Ever!!!

IT's BACK TONIGHT! 8pm again this time.
This is episode 5 of 6 & it's all so tight now...couldn't call it now but i hope Brian Cox wins (ok his lookalike Tim)

Did you enjoy the LIVE DARTS last week? Nah me neither (LIKE PLAYING DARTS though but WATCHING? nah)

There are a couple of programmes on CHANNEL 4 tonight (SUNDAY 24 SEPT) which might interest some of you out there in the UK?

At 8pm (CLASHES with ASTRONAUTS) so set your RECORDERS is "Egypt's Great Pyramid : The NEW Evidence" & no it's nothing to do with the similar shapes found out there OR even the so called SECRET Hidden Chambers that hold ? still, it should prove to be very interesting.

Following on from this at 9pm from the Philip K Dick short stories is "ELECTRIC DREAMS"
I must admit, i recommended this to you folks last week but that 1st episode was drab, miserable & a little boring IMHO, so sorry about that!
Hopefully this one will be far better...it is entitled "IMPOSSIBLE PLANET" (fingers crossed)

BACK SOON with my thoughts on ASTRONAUTS...looks like it could be a bit more PHYSICAL tonight so i do have worries for TIM (come on TIM)

My thoughts on EPISODE 5 of 6

Please don't read any further if you haven't seen it yet or plan on seeing the re-run on Wednesday night (same channel BBC2 at 11.45pm)

I couldn't help but smile a little at this episode as it began a little like the programme I posted here a week or two ago called "Now Get Out of That"

It dropped off Vijay, James, Tim, Susie & Kerry in the Countryside.
They were told they had 2 hours to choose what equipment they needed to take with them & to plan & find their way to a transmission point where they would send a signal informing them they were ready for pick up.

The experts were taken a back a bit by the nearly 30 minutes it took them to set off (and I bet you folks watching were too)
Kerry took control but Vijay couldn't help himself could he? he's a good fella & his back story here was a nice one but my sister, father & I were surprised he was still here at this point & it was clear even here that he was not going to make it (I DON'T THINK THIS WILL COME as ANY SURPRISE to ANYONE WATCHING?) he also tried to move in on TIM who took the responsibility of navigating them to this point (WHICH HE DID SUPERBLY)

They made it but ONLY JUST.

The abseiling point SHOULD have been were SUSIE took control...she sat back a little but helped make sure they were secure, it was pointed out it was perhaps a mistake to do so but I think she was being respectful & not getting in everyone's faces whilst still quietly helping.

Approx Half-Way through we got the INTERVIEW (a bit like The Apprentice, although the folks in this are NOT like those here in ASTRONAUTS! these are the KIND of FOLKS who should be helping running the WORLD not those from The APPRENTICE, although it will be FUN to watch them again in the upcoming series SEEING THEM shout & ball at each other! it airs on BBC1 soon...but these so called well educated, successful folks would NOT have a CHANCE against these ASTRONAUTS types! )
At this Interview point I think many had VIJAY gone & he was.
We (as a family) thought Tim (superb interview...even when asked what danger has he ever faced? he explained he delt with serious chemicals & we CHEERED that), Kerry (a fantastic lady) & Susie (the dark horse who has become a favourite in our eyes) along with James would probably make to the USA & further NASA training...but then the SHOCK of SHOCKS...

James was asked what would he do if say the ISS was on fire & it was looking fairly serious BUT mission control told him to stay put...
WHAT WOULD HE DO...again, I think we ALL expected him to say, if it was as serious as suggested then it would be a BAIL OUT but his response was I think truly SHOCKING, saying he would sit tight & TRUST NASA & await further instructions.
ARGHHHH we didn't think James would WIN but we thought he'd get to the United States DAMN, DAMN, DAMN, as soon as he said this he was DEAD in the WATER...critical decision & clearly the WRONG ONE (you have to think on your feet & go with what you believe to be right?)

Did anyone read about that Russian Officer in charge of LAUNCHING Nuclear Weapons who recently DIED.
Back in the 1980's he was ALERTED to FLASH WARNINGS EVERYWHERE stating they were under attack, back then it may have been tense but he TOOK a MOST IMPORTANT DECISION to 'NOT' launch...reminded me of the super film "WARGAMES"

WE OWE THIS MAN A GREAT DEAL OF THANKS...who knows how this WORLD might LOOK had he took the official line of launching.
He was proved correct it was an ERROR...we should ALL doff our hats to this FELLA.

So James like Vijay was GONE what followed was HEART BREAKING...his reaction to being AXED was difficult to watch, clearly a DREAM that had been SHATTERED but my oh my, oh my SHOULD HE BE PROUD, he was a TEACHER & got to the LAST 4 (i'm giving him 4th place as he did better than VIJAY for me) WHAT a TERRIFIC Fella.

3 LEFT & WHAT a 3

Tim, Susie & Kerry

LOVED Tim's phone call to his MOTHER...sweet, sweet, sweet, thanking her & even the DOG.

OFF to the U.S.A. they GO...

Here they were each given underwater tasks & they co-operated as a TEAM should...THEY WERE BRILLIANT (even down to Tim discovering he had a problem & cut the mission short but not after having acquired most of the DATA asked of them)

So on to THE FINAL WEEK...WHO WILL WIN? Who DO YOU WANT to WIN?

It's no surprise to me that these 3 are the FINAL 3 but Chris & Co have a difficult decision NEXT WEEK.

No surprise to you folks that I am going for TIM (he has done everything THROWN at him from the control of the HELICOPTER at the START right up to last's night's taking charge of this DIVE) it's been asked...IS HE TOO YOUNG ? well maybe? if he were to become an ASTRONAUT would he be the youngest ever to do so? but then again I think SPACE will be something for the DARING Young & it's folks like he that could spearhead such missions BACK to the MOON & on to MARS & the like.

KERRY is an absolute JOY, beautiful, caring, intelligent, cool & someone who is a NATURAL in charge (but will step back when needed)
The fact she is a trained pilot shows she has IT and although she doesn't have the science background of TIM & SUSIE this could be learned.
SHE IS AN EXCEPTIONAL CANDIDATE & should she win you couldn't argue against it.

SUSIE...a DARK HORSE that has stepped out of the shadows, adventurous, clever, well trained in the sciences (knows her SPACE as does TIM)
She has every chance, some might bring up the leadership concern but I think she'd step up if needed.

WHAT a SHAME ALL 3 could not become BRITISH ASTRONAUTS.

I don't think there will be a 2nd or 3rd place (which is FAIR enough( they've done AMAZINGLY to REACH THIS POINT.
my guess is they'll go through the final trials & 1 WINNER will be INTRODUCED & I think that WINNER will be TIM but maybe KERRY or SUSIE

LOVED this SERIES.

HOPE you folks are LOVING it also?

COME on TIM

Have you got your DRINKS, SNACKS & CRISPS ready for TONIGHT'S FINALE...BBC2 8pm to 9pm (if you miss it is re-run 11.45pm BBC2 WEDNESDAY)

KERRY
SUSIE
or TIM

ALL are WORTHY.

Coming with a SCIENTIFIC Background i just wonder if NASA are really after this sort? well of course they are but let me explain...

I have NOT mentioned anything ALIEN related in this THREAD (so far i think?) but seriously if it wasn't for the FACT that ALL ASTRONAUTS have got to sign a declaration saying that they will only discuss things from any mission once NASA has CLEARED it for them to do so WHICH of THESE FOLKS is more likely to TELL US WHAT IT IS THEY ENCOUNTERED?
Well NASA never allow ASTRONAUTS to talk about ALIENS & CRAFTS or ANYTHING LIKE THIS.

SUSIE & TIM are ALL ABOUT the EXPLORATION & DISCOVERY
Of course it won't stop them being chosen (it should actually be an advantage) but we HAVE seen Astronauts make mistakes & let things slip that they really shouldn't have, so which of KERRY, SUSIE & TIM possibly might do the same? EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO.

KERRY being from the MILITARY would be the SAFE choice & if she were ever to go on & make it as an ASTRONAUT i get the feeling she would be the LAST PERSON to make any such comments.

SUSIE & TIM you get the impression are a little bit like you? & I
We see something WE WANT to KNOW what it is & let folks know so we can FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THEM /IT.

MANY OF YOU WATCHING THIS PROGRAMME & READING This will think this is NONSENSE...however if they were to take such possibilities into account (even if it only matters a few % and is as i agree highly unlikely to occur for even TIM & SUSIE wouldn't say anything) KERRY is the more CONTROLLED ONE & i wonder if this is WHY there may be a little surprise here tonight?

Of course NOT even the WINNER is CERTAIN of making it to SPACE but from what I've seen ALL 3 are WORTHY.

Unless TIM makes a BLANK UP of tonight's tasks HE DESERVEDLY should be FAVOURITE from SUSIE & KERRY who i cannot separate.

If TIM makes NO MISTAKES here TONIGHT & i were CHOOSING then i would choose him, if he does (and this task tonight looks deadly serious) then it opens the door to both Kerry & Susie.

My father being an EX ENGINNER he will also LIKE to WATCH the CHANNEL 4 programme airing at the same time as this FINALE called...
"ESCAPE" as i say on C4 at 8pm to 9pm (WILL HAVE TO BE TAPED / RECORDED...i still say TAPED )
A Group of engineers with DIFFERNET SKILLS are stranded in a REMOTE DESERT with wreckage from a crashed plane & must BUILD a new VEHICLE to return to civilisation.
NO IDEA the time scale but as this in 5 parts (this being the 1st) it looks like we're talking days to make it.
Repeated Tuesday C4 late at 12.50am if any of you folks are interested?

COME ON TIM

WHAT A BRILLIANT 'FINAL EPISODE'
I have enjoyed this SERIES as much if not more so than MANY BLOCKBUSTER MOVIES, the likes of MARVEL (which I LOVE)

CHRIS HADFIELD (Ex Astronaut COMMANDER...hey he has the SAME RANK as ME yeah you wish Chris! yours is only HONORARY! Aw Man!)
Dr KEVIN FONG
And IYA WHITELEY
As the EXPERTS have been MARVELOUS (see what i did there ) but they have, i have enjoyed hearing what they had to say & they're reasoning for choosing who goes & who stays.

I HOPE we get another BBC Programme in which they can be used again?

SO, to the FINAL TESTS & Number 1
SUSIE Clearly WON this one...Load a camera & take a photo of Chris in a ZERO-G plane (she even signed it ) the DARK HORSE is looking GOOD.

TEST 2
They ALL dived down to the AQUARIUS REEF BASE used by NASA Astronauts in TRAINING.
Here they were given specific roles WHICH THEY ALL CARRIED OUT WELL...
TIM was on it, the Medical Checks he carried out were GOOD & QUICK.
SUSIE...remember some questioned her leadership role? well she steps up to the mark here.
KERRY did what was asked of her.
PRETTY MUCH a 1st = although if you had to pick one that edged it, you'd have probably gone for SUSIE or TIM (You said one Chris! shut up subconscious)

TEST 3 (was it a test? well as the experts have always pointed out...EVERYTHING IS A TEST)

It was a SOCIAL GATHERING with the 3 of Tim, Kerry & Susie getting together with these 3 BRILLIANT EXPERTS to discuss things & what revs them up, Tim's LOVE of GEOLOGY & SPACE is clear for ALL to see (I LIKE HIM a GREAT DEAL...a TERRIFIC Young Man), Kerry mentions she like to OUTREACH & talk of her experiences (were she become an ASTRONAUT)
SUSIE here came off as a VERY IMPRESSIVE Lady discovering unknown MOUNTAINS & explaining HOW SHE DID THIS.
This is a WOMAN of NOTE & this DARK HORSE had now become the FAVOURITE...called to my sister saying I LOVED TIM but that SUSIE might be the one to WIN IT although i still kinda wanted TIM to win it!

I did like Tim's reasoning of AGE & EXPERIENCES & that these might be a MINUS for him? hmmm

TEST 4
Well this really wasn't a test as such, it was a moment at the NASA LAUNCH SITE on a BUS in which Chris showed them family video's & tried to explain just how DANGEROUS such MISSIONS are, explaining CHALLENGER's SHUTTLE Launch DISASTER & then COLUMBIA's re-entry DISASTER.
It Never gets any EASIER watching the VIDEO FOOTAGE from those REAL people died here, GOOD PEOPLE, I mean SOME of the BEST PEOPLE on the PLANET (These are the types that should be going to SPACE or should be in charge of RUNNING of the PLANET....not the likes we have so NOW!!!)

Chris explains THE ODDS of DYING was 1 in 38 from LAUNCH...that REALLY is a roll on a ROULETTE WHEEL, I knew it was RISKY, I had NOT realised the odds were quiet as SHORT as THIS!!! Blimey! would that stop me GOING UP given a CHANCE? strap me in NOW! i WANT to KNOW WHAT's OUT THERE (For Real) & YES i WILL take the RISK...WHAT WILL BE WILL BE right?
I DREAM of SEEING our BEAUTIFUL PLANET from High Orbit.
Perhaps ONE DAY, before i DIE, will i? get that CHANCE? who knows? but should i ever do so i know it will HIT ME LIKE A TON of BRICKS!

So if you see that OLD GUY aged perhaps 70 or 80 Years old (in 20 or 30 YEARS) up there on an EARTH Viewing PLATFORM next to you crying his EYES OUT well that guy might well be ME.

1 in 38 RISK right now i'll take it but in 10, 20, 30 years time if i'm still around by then? these odds you would expect should have dropped, maybe i will get my chance to see OUR PLANET EARTH from SPACE?

We get to see Kerry's little girl ADORABLE is the word & she understands the DANGER, so too SUSIE having put herself at risk numerous times but TIM's eyes were opened a little at this point.

I HAVE NEVER WATCHED A PROGRAMME in which 3 Truly TERRIFIC PEOPLE were ALMOST inseparable & TRULY WORTHY OF WINNING...if you know one of these truly EXCEPTIONAL PEOPLE? or better still are FRIENDS with them then COUNT YOURSELF VERY LUCKY...They are the kind of HUMAN BEINGS that make me FEEL PROUD of our RACE & give me HOPE.

So...that's it!

WHO WINS?

Well there was ONE Final SPEECH to their family & friends, these 3 experts (whom i have enjoyed greatly, CHRIS HADFIELD genuinely seems like a TERIFIC Guy, does he know about things up there but can't say? i don't know! i don't really care, HE'S A GOOD GUY & who didn't LOVE see him SINGING THAT FAMOUS BOWIE Track in SPACE!) & the ex contestants were here also.


Tim is so similar to Brian Cox (looks like him too) but his talk was ENTHUSIASTIC.
Kerry said she would be applying to the EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY to become an ASTRONAUT if she won or lost.
SUSIE Lost her VOICE but she was a leader (you don't have to shout to be so & I THINK SHE PROVED THIS so it was quiet amusing she'd lost her voice after saying this)

And so to THE WINNER....

Well Done SUSIE...CONGRATULATIONS to HER & a VERY WORTHY Winner.
KERRY too i am sure WILL BECOME an ASTRONAUT in TIME.
TIM? well this young GENTLEMAN i have NO DOUBTS WHATSOEVER will GO ON TO GREAT & BETTER THINGS, perhaps he was just a little too young at this point (i don't think we have any confirmed ASTRONAUTS at this point in time in their 20's? BUT WE WILL)

DON'T BE TOO SURPRISED if we see TIM as COMMANDER of a MISSION to MARS or better still if they (the powers that be) release the HIDDEN Tech we almost certainly have which could perhaps get us to my current favourite place of PLUTO.
Can you imagine Tim seeing ALL of those THINGS for REAL? & reporting back to us...NOW THAT would make a GREAT Series.

I have LOVED this SERIES, hoped i would & i did.

WELL DONE to the BBC for commissioning it, my faith in HUMANKIND soars (for now)

OH & those that say that WOMEN are NOT EQUAL in virtually EVERY WAY to MEN are speaking out of their BLANK
Some women are BETTER than men, some men BETTER than women & the same can be said of every aspect of HUMAN NATURE & what you are but these folks SHOWED Great Respect for EACH OTHER...YES my faith in HUMAN KIND is RESTORED a little by watching this Wonderful Programme.

I HOPE YOU FOLKS in BLIGHTY enjoyed it.

Now on to THE APPRENTICE...Oh Blimey! this should be FUN.
Folks that think they are better than they are, COMMON SENSE goes OUT of the WINDOW with these cocky business types & many could not run a FISH & CHIP SHOP but my is it ENTERTAINING....apparently there is ALREADY controversy over it due to the AFFAIR.

BACK to EARTH with a THUMP me THINKS

You folks in the UK ready for 'The Apprentice' TONIGHT?

We LOVE it, these people are the crème de la crème of Young Business TALENT

Yup this is the type running our COUNTRY, our companies, banks & retail outlets

Compared to those 12 up for 'ASTRONAUTS' my guess is that NOT 1 of these would have made that starting 12.

Let the bickering, arguing, sniggering, shouting, stab in the backing, taking the mickey(ing) BEGIN.

I LOVE the INTRODUCTIONS to these CHARACTERS...comparing themselves to the GREATS of BUSINESS.
Hey you can't fault them for trying but seriously most of them shouldn't be anywhere near business.
There is ONLY ONE WINNER but gezzz try to work together to win the task at least!

HOPEFULLY there is at least ONE here we can PICK OUT as the GOOD, calm, well thinking one but we shall see...