Flight Deck E-Mails Truly From Cyberspace

The joy of almond M&Ms, the perils of Russian meat and the beauty of crystallized urine as it jets into outer space.

All of that, plus the comforts of a Miami Palmetto High sweatshirt, the "wild ride" of a shuttle launch and a deep measure of spirituality are being shared with some South Floridians by a former classmate, Dominic Gorie, currently on an out-of-town assignment — 210 miles above Earth.

"We just passed over the Himalayas and are en-route to Australia! The views today have been fantastic . . .," Gorie wrote in a "Hello Earthlings" e-mail he sent to friends from his days at Miami Palmetto.

"Launch was a wild ride as always but maybe even more so since it was at night and the cockpit really lit up when the SRBs [solid-rocket boosters] lit off! Right after we got to orbit, I handed out astronaut wings to the 3 guys on the flight deck with me who were on their first flight."

That is the sort of thing — along with an e-mail address that ends in mail.nasa.gov — that attracts attention when it hits your inbox.

‘Guess it gives new meaning to the term ‘cyberspace,’ " said Mike Pedersen, 51, a former Miami Palmetto classmate and wrestling team partner who received two e-mails from Gorie since his friend blasted into space March 11.

"It reminds you that, gosh, our country still does some amazing feats," Pedersen said. "To get an e-mail like that is just amazing."

SIXTEEN-DAY MISSION

Gorie, 50, commands the crew of shuttle Endeavour, which is nearing the end of a grueling, 16-day construction mission to the International Space Station.

A former U.S. Navy test pilot now living near Houston with a wife and two children, Gorie graduated from Palmetto in 1975 and still considers Miami his hometown.

This is Gorie’s fourth mission and the most demanding, but — like some other astronauts — he has been trying to stay in touch with relatives and close friends.

"It is now flight day 10 and we are preparing for our 4th EVA [spacewalk] tomorrow," Gorie wrote in his latest e-mail, received Thursday and Friday.

"Today actually had a few hours off for everyone so it was really good to just enjoy the view for a bit. Since we are synced up for a night launch and a night landing, nearly all our passes over the US are at night; so we get to see a lot of Africa and Australia in the daytime!"

As for living conditions . . .

"Today was also a day for dumping our extra water and waste (#1) tanks," he wrote. "Even urine is beautiful as it is shot out of the port side nozzle and instantly crystallizes! Everything is beautiful in its own way . . .

"The various cans of Russian meat are less than impressive. M&Ms continue to be a staple. The new almond M&Ms are a big hit!"

SCHOOL SWEATSHIRT

After taking care to mention that he sleeps in a Palmetto High wrestling sweatshirt, Gorie signed off, but not before adding:

"PS. Read Ecclesiastes 2:24. It applies to this trip for me."

According to the New International Version of the Bible, this is that verse:

"A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God.