Hai – It's Johnny Alonso From NASA 360

Yo,
just dropping in to say hai, chime in and make my presence known on the 360 board 🙂
We had a blast (as we always do when we travel to location) first stop: filming at NASA Dryden in Edwards California – dude, that seems like ages ago… We were so stoaked to shoot the x-48 model but the winds picked up to like a million miles an hour (not really a million miles an hour, but enough to shut the flight down) so we finished up shooting in the hanger where the flight simulator was. That was pretty cool too – and the crew that we interviewed was right on point. We got tonz of beauty shots – Tom did this time elapse shot of the sunrise with the moon dipping down all in the same shot – it was hawt 🙂 Check it out, I was talking to this intern dude at the site. He said on their free time they’d take out these wind jammers and wind surf all over the lake bed getting speeds up to 45 miles per hour. The stretch was pretty big – it went for miles – I could only imagine how cool it would be to speed on one of the wind jammers over the lake bed. But if the wind drops out – you’re done and your walking back – now that would be SO lame. lol
Our next location landed us at Black Point Lava Flow in Arizona (which also seems like years ago – it was only 6 weeks back) we got to shoot the Desert Rats program – the Tri-Athlete and the Lunar Electric Rover or the LER (sounds like a few lines off my script written by Kevin & Bibs) Again – good timez from the second we jumped into breakfast at a hotel…to shooting on location with many familiar NASA faces. We got to hang with Kimberly Land from NASA Langley and the paisans from NASA Edge. We got to meet and hang with astronaut Mike Gernhardt and Geologist Brent Garry (Brent actually recognized me from NASA 360. He was like ” Hey…yea man, I know who you are, I’ve seen several episodes of NASA 360. I like the show.)  yo…….how cool is that!!! That so made my day!!! ;p
Bibs and I got a chance to talk with Mike G and interview him inside the LER. Now that was a trip! These cats Mike and Barry were in the LER for like 2 weeks straight never leaving the ride – completing many missions, totally living it. When they rolled out (actually got out of the LER for the first time after 2 straight weeks) your Johnny Alonso from NASA 360 was the first one to hi five astronaut Mike and grab an interview with geologist Brent….now tell me…who’s the man?? 😉
Kevin, Bibs, Tom, Kimberly, Spooner and I rolled over to the Grand Canyon. Ive never been to the canyon before – what a site, I tell you! We shot several tags and commercial spots for 360 at the canyon. Tom also shot his NASA 360 3-D tags at this cool looking, fake Mexican fortress. This was where we bought a bunch of souvenirs. I bought several post cards and 2 shot glasses. I never sent the post cards – this is becoming a habit.
So, we rolled and left the Grand Canyon. Next stop was this Native American roadside – jewelry, souvenir place (I should take a writing class) Kevin was rapping with the Indian guy telling him how Kevin and he are blood. They connected in their Native American way. Kevin bought a bunch of jewelry, then we rolled. That was cool.
I’m so missing other events that took place at both locations. But as you can see – not only do we get our work done and have a cool looking, hip and interesting educational show, we have a blast getting it done. We have our own way of making things happen and work. Sure, we might not follow the typical schematic for making a television series – but then again, NASA 360 isn’t your typical show 🙂
Hit me back –
Johnny Alonso – NASA 360

38 thoughts on “Hai – It's Johnny Alonso From NASA 360”

  1. hey johnny,

    hi wats up. nice one… very new things for me … as i am surffing this site first time.. but happy to know that you r doing your job joyfully, you are exploring the hidden things of nature. keep going….amazing……..

  2. Love you Johnny Alonso, love your blog – where the sun always shines in your great adventures.

  3. From your home page it appears that you are over 30. Please try composing your thoughts like an adult so that young people reading this page (your videos are targeted at them) will not think that it is OK to “write” like this. That is what I pay taxes for you to do.

  4. Dude!!
    I thought I recognized you!! You were in Growing Pains:Return of the Seavers!!! I loved that movie.

  5. Why oh why does NASA think having some twit write like Spicoli (sorry Jeff) is what we want to see when we come here to find out what’s going on? I think an on-the-ground blog is a great idea, especially written by someone who can address a wider, perhaps younger, audience and get them interested in the program overall, and give good, engaging, narrative descriptions of events.

    But would it kill Alonso to not write like a fifth grader, and actually spell words correctly? It would be so totally a million times better if like, you didn’t address your audience, you know, like they were all morons.

    sriusly. That blog is awful. Way lame, even.

  6. What’s all the JA slammin’! Does this guy have the best job in the world or what! If some of you bloggers can’t overlook a few forced typos, get a life! This show is “ftastic”, get it? Oh wait, fantastic. Have you ever heard the expression, “If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say it all”? Well, here goes. I enjoy this program with my family. We convert it off iTunes on our widescreen television and it looks great. Thank you for the entertainment 360, NASA is way more than just flying to Mars or the Moon. Peace out!

  7. I quite enjoy reading blogs written in this manner. It reminds me of other blogs I read daily, including Kotaku, Gizmodo etc.

    Good move.

  8. Johnny,

    Don’t take that stuff personally. I have been an engineer at NASA for a lot of years now and I have to say that people in my generation just don’t get it. They have a different frame of reference than most young people. My generation still sees NASA in its glory days of Apollo, but times have changed since then. In the late 60’s and early 70’s NASA was really the only game in town. Today the internet, personal communication devices, 500 tv stations etc. all makes NASA (in the eyes of the young) a little less relevant. Think about this…the average college grad today was not born when the Challenger was lost. Their frame of reference is completely different than mine.

    With that said, I think the NASA 360 program is a breath of fresh air for NASA. What you guys do is right on the money by connecting with both younger and older audiences. For my money (tax payer money) there is no better program about NASA than NASA 360. Keep up the good work and don’t worry about all those old guys in my generation…most of us know that what you are doing is valuable for the Agency to help keep us relevant for the next generation of engineers.

  9. Man, a few negative posts and the rally begins! I really don’t respond to blogs, but in this case I felt I had to say I’m a fan of this program. I’m always interested in reading the behind the scenes stuff, which is cool, but to take the time to trash Johnny is just weird. I wonder how many people bashing him have actually seen the show? He’s great. Speak your mind Johnny!

  10. Monette
    I’m 49 and just Love Johnny’s work and energy. Makes NASA more fun and interesting. Younger generation is the future and to capture this audience, you have to make it fun, interesting and easy to follow. I love this website. It’s like being there. It makes science and learning more fun and I think Johnny Alonso is doing an excellent job promoting science and I know my young adult kids will love this too. Keep up the great work Johnny. Love your work. Can’t wait to see what is next.

  11. hie jonny.

    Glad to read your email. i am a fanatic of the universe. at night i like looking at the stars and everything that can be seen with our naked eyes. i am writing from Blantyre, Malawi in Africa.

  12. When is the next program! I read on your blog about editing the DRATS program. How long does it take to edit and film a show? Great photographs from the desert. I saw them on webshots. I think you guys do great stuff, I have all your shows on my computer. Looking forward to DRATS!

  13. AWESOME post Johnny – It was a blast getting see you and hang with you guys in AZ! We are so blessed to be doing the work we do and it is so rewarding when we get to reach the thousands of people who enjoy your presence on the NASA 360 show! Great job and don’t work too much about the envious NAY sayers out there – they just wanna be like Johnny! 🙂
    Luv ya!

  14. Good job of making your post relevant to the younger crowd. Some people may criticize, but for young people to be interested, you have to speak their language. Thanks!

  15. When will the Desert Rats program be available? I’ve been following the progress of the operation and it looks to be a real winner. I’m sure you guys were in the thick of it. Can’t wait to see it!!

  16. It's great you tell it the way for the young people. NASA 360 is hard stuff but you make it understandable for everybody. Thanks and I will keep reading.

  17. Hey we live out by Black Point Lava Flow in Arizona. Is there any opportunity to meet up with you and see what’s going on first hand? 🙂

  18. Well written. It's not easy to write in a way young people love. And I am sure they will. Keep up the good work.
    Kind regards,

  19. I quite enjoy reading blogs written in this manner. It reminds me of other blogs I read daily, including Kotaku, Gizmodo etc.

  20. Need to know about asteroids called “XVDPX-492”. why there is nothing on google about that? Is it really going to hit Bangladesh.

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