Exploring The Space Shuttle

 Rusty: Look, there's the Space Shuttle!

I guess they're working on it. I hope they don't end up with any extra pieces!

From behind, it reminds me of an Imperial Star Destroyer. I wonder if Darth Vader ever rode in one. Maybe I'll sneak inside for a moment. 

These knobs and switches are cool. And all this to preserve the packaged chocolate pudding the astronauts will consume in space. I bet they wouldn't mind if I consumed one before I finished my exploration of the Space Shuttle. I mean, I'd only eat one…

Say, this cockpit is too cool. I can't imagine how the pilots know how to use so many instruments.

Artist: There you are! I was wondering where you had gotten to.
Rusty: Sorry. I guess time got away from me.
Artist: I know what you mean. This cockpit reminds me of the Millennium Falcon.
Rusty: Yeah, Han Solo and Chewbacca would totally dig it.
Artist: Hey, do you smell chocolate pudding?
Rusty: Umm…

Rusty & Artist Dalek

Meet NASA's Robot Astronaut

Stan: Welcome, Space Enthusiasts! I'm Stan the Cyberman, NASA's latest robonaut. Let me show you the highlights of Houston Space Center.

NASA's human astronauts wore these on previous missions. With my cybernetic knitted body, I don't need gloves. 

Still, sometimes I wish I had fingers.

The Captain of a previous mission wore this uniform aboard the International Space Station. I can't remember his name right off. Captain Peacock? Captain Pike? Captain Phillips? 

I'm sure it began with a P.

After an arduous spacewalk, I enjoy playing chess with my fellow astronauts. Official NASA documents state the agency returned this set to Earth because engineers needed to refurbish the set. I suspect the other astronauts just got tired of me winning all the time, and thought a new set might bring them better luck.

What can I say? They're only human.

Despite the flaws inherent in their biological systems, I enjoying working and hanging out with my human counterparts. We usually have a lot of fun together.

And here's a prototype for another robonaut. He's modeled on the Transformers, an intelligent race of beings from the planet Cybertron. Doesn't he look cool?

So, give me some feedback. Does seeing all this inspire you? Do you think NASA might someday select Daleks for astronaut training?

Rusty: I can't believe Stan made it here before us.
Artist: The wise Dalek finds inspiration, not envy, in others' achievements.  
Rusty: You're right, I know you're right. Still, a Cyberman! And I was really enjoying my visit to Houston Space Center…

Stan the Cyberman, and Artist & Rusty Daleks

An "Out Of This World" Park

Yes, you rest, Mistress. A park is a great place to take a break from driving. Relax under the trees, soak in the vivid greens, the...

…Ooh look, planes! Are those T-38s?

They are! I love the T-38 Talons! NASA has used them since the Project Gemini days for research and astronaut training. Northrop built over a thousand for the Air Force, half of which the United States military still uses today. Other countries also use the T-38s for, you know, whatever they want, I guess.

Mistress should get one. It'd be faster than a car.

Say, there is trusty old BP-K, the boilerplate capsule used during the Apollo years. NASA engineers also used BP-K to test aspects of the Space Shuttle Thermal Protection System. Master should get one. He could adapt it into an super-cool office.

Say, this park is really out of this world! I wonder where we are?

Artist Dalek

Too Much Fun To Handle

Rusty: What shall we do today?
Artist: Let's explore the beachfront again. Galveston inspires me.

Artist: I'd dance with her if she took off that spiky crown.

Rusty: Whoa, dude! Two words: Dental Floss!

Artist: The Beatles really were Music Giants!

Rusty: Oops. Activated the growth ray again. My bad.

Rusty: Why are Master & Mistress taking a nap?
Artist: The walk fatigued them, but all that lobster did them in.
Rusty: I'm glad Daleks are built to handle infinite amounts of fun.
Artist: Agreed. Daleks are Indefatigable, Indefatigable, INDEFATIGABLE!

Rusty & Artist Dalek

Storming The Beach

Artist: Compared with Brighton, Galveston looks so peaceful.
Rusty: Let's rouse our Humans, and storm the beach!

Rusty: If we're in Texas, how come we're serving English oatmeal?

Artist: It's what Master & Mistress like. The tea's English too.

Rusty: The tea?

Artist: Typhoo.

Rusty: Bless you.

Rusty: Listen up, everyone: I claim this beach for Dalek-kind!

Rusty: Alert! Alert! No one's in that lifeguard station!
Artist: There's only a few people on the beach
Rusty: The Sea Devils or a leviathan could be lurking offshore!
Artist: Relax. This is peaceful, safe Galveston.

Artist: Ah, another pleasure pier. More fond memories of England. Perhaps Master can win us another TARDIS in their arcade.

Rusty: They want $10 admission? Plus more for games?
Artist: It wasn't like this in Brighton.
Rusty: Master & Mistress look so sad!
Artist: We'll make it up to them somehow.

Artist: I know: let's take Master & Mistress out to lunch.
Rusty: Why not? As you say, Galveston is so much safer than Brighton.

Artist & Rusty Dalek

Related Dragon Cache entries
The TARDIS of Brighton Pier

A Dalek Graduation

Rusty: When will the graduation start?
Artist: Soon. We arrived early to get good seats. 

Rusty: Alert! Alert! A Human is handling us disrespectfully!
Artist: Release us, or you will be exterminated! Exterminated!! EXTERMINATED!!!

Rusty: For a minute there, it was "Planet of Giants" all over again!
Artist: Alert suspended. Look, the students have entered; Graduation can commence!

Rusty: Why are the females using their phones during the party? 
Artist: Human females are complicated. They're enjoying the party; they're just parallel processing.
Rusty: You mean they're really androids, and their microprocessor brains are computing--
Artist: No, I mean human females are complicated. Listen, we can discuss this subject later. For now, focus on our mission!

 Artist: Table traffic clearing. Prepare to assault the Goodies Table.

Rusty: Someone's approaching! Shall we abort?
Artist: Negative. Stay on target.

Rusty: But we're in danger of being captured!
Artist: Stay on target! Stay on Target!! STAY ON TARGET!!!

Rusty: My nerves are glowing like overloaded laser cannons!
Artist: Yes, but we procured two graduation hats. Now let's exterminate them before any humans find us and take them away.
Rusty: I love to exterminate Chocolate! Exterminate Ch--
Artist: Exterminate quietly while I savor! Savor!! SAVOR!!!

Rusty & Artist Dalek

The Dalek Magical Mystery Tour

Artist: Master, we're enjoying Indiana Jones and the Genesis Deluge, but could we look out the window?

Rusty: Where do you think we're going?
Artist: Wait for the sky to clear, then look for key landmarks.

Rusty: That guitar has Janis Joplin's face on it. Maybe we're in San Francisco.
Artist: Naw, it's gotta be Nashville.

Rusty: Austin Texas? What'll we do here?
Artist: I don't know. Maybe help the locals "Keep Austin Weird?"
Rusty: That's not very nice.
Artist: Hey, it's their slogan!

Artist: It may not be weird, but this pork Cordon Blue reminds me of Cornish Pasties!

Rusty: This Schwiezer Chicken definitely looks weird. I wonder where Mistress will put it all? 

Rusty: It can't be bedtime already! I want the weirdness to continue!!
Artist: Enough complaining! It's time to power down for the night.
Rusty: But all Master and Mistress have done is read, eat, and sit all day! How can they be so tired?
Artist: Deactivate! Deactivate!! Deactivate!!!

Rusty & Artist Dalek

Mother Nature's Response to Canyon Lake

Canyon Lake was constructed because the channels upriver could hold much more water than those below.  The earthen dam took six years to make, and another four years for water to rise to the desired height.  

The fixture jutting into the lake controls the rate at which water is released to the lower Guadalupe River Basin.  

In 2002, thirty-four inches of rain fell in one week.  The lake rose faster than the dam could safely release the water downstream.  During the next week, somewhere between 1.5 and 2.5 times the normal volume of the lake washed over this area, and made its own way toward the lower Guadalupe Basin.

From above, the area looks relatively flat, untouched.  

But walk down into it, and you realize what all that water did to the nearby land.

It tore through ground, savaged the hillside, and eroded millions of years of geologic history. (Not to mention what it did to homes and businesses downstream).

Humans created something beautiful, useful, and beneficial in Canyon Lake, but it took us an entire decade.  In one week, Mother Nature told us what she thought of our achievement.  

Like I said last month, all mothers deserve respect.

Dragon Dave