For anyone who’s ever wondered what the difference between a ship and a boat is, or gotten reprimanded for using the wrong term, here’s a tip for remembering it: ships carry boats. The R/V Sally Ride is a ship. Onboard are two boats, the work boat (also called the small boat) and the rescue boat. Today the Sally Ride’s work boat … Read More
Engine Room Tour
I find the engine room to be the most interesting place on any ship. It’s full of hundreds of valves, knobs, and buttons – none of which you’re allowed to touch. Chief Engineer Paul Beuren (referred to simply as Chief) was nice enough to show me around the R/V Sally Ride’s engine room. It’s so much more than the heart … Read More
Lab View
As of now, the laboratory space on the Sally Ride is bare-bones. The countertops are still wrapped to protect the surfaces, shelves and drawers lay empty. An area that will soon be covered with up to 15 computer monitors, showing readouts from every sensor onboard, is just another wall. This lab, and the “wet” lab next door, will house equipment and … Read More