Category Archives: Technology and Society

My Back Problem

I had an appointment for an epidural on Monday, but after reading up on it, I decided to cancel. Seems like some risk involved, and I’m not in enough pain to bother. I really just need some strength training in my lower back. Unfortunately, the earliest appointment I could get for an evaluation for physical therapy is Boxing Day.

But I am feeling back to normal (that is, somewhat stiff in the morning when I get out of bed, but more limber once I start moving around, with little pain). I’ve been getting gradually better for the past couple weeks (it’s hard to believe that it’s been four weeks since it started). I managed a trip to DC this week with quite a bit of walking, including carrying a suitcase up and down stairs, and putting it in and getting it out of an overhead, so I think I need something more prophylactic at this point, so it doesn’t happen again.

CRS Mission

It was scrubbed yesterday for weather, but it’s set to launch in a few minutes. It’s an unflown booster, but the cargo Dragon has flown before.

[Update a few minutes later]

Everything looking good through Max Q.

[Update a couple minutes later]

Clean MECO and stage separation. About to do boostback of the booster. Grid fins are deployed.

[Update a few more minutes later]

Another successful landing. I don’t think they’ve had a failure for Falcon 9 since the first success, though they have lost them on Falcon Heavy.

[Update a few more minutes later]

Solar arrays deployed, and Dragon on its way to ISS.

[Late-morning update]

With this launch, SpaceX has hit another milestone.