Ed Ranks Things for Astronauts to Do while Waiting for a Rocket Launch

I know this ranking will have limited use to most readers given that A) you're probably not an astronaut, and B) the American Space Shuttle program was discontinued in 2011 and therefore even if you are an astronaut there aren't very many chances to get launched into space.

Still, you never know. This ranking might be useful for someone out there one day.

8. Smile politely at all the other astronauts around you and shrug your shoulders - You really don't have much else to do, do you?

7. Ask for a bathroom break - Fun fact! If you're all strapped into the shuttle/rocket and you suddenly need to go, all you have to do is ask and they have to stop the countdown and let you out.  It's certainly an option, but avoid it if possible. This will really piss off the hundreds of other people working at Mission Control and cost the government millions of dollars.

6. Go to Ron Jon Surf Shop in nearby Cocoa Beach - This one assumes you're launching from Cape Canaveral and depends on how long you have to wait until the launch. If this is just a 30 minute delay or so, you obviously won't have time to do this. But if the weather is bad and the launch might get pushed off a whole day or more... then now might be the perfect time to consider buying one of those "Mr. Zog's Sex Wax®" shirts.

5. Befriend an alligator - And if indeed you are in Cape Canaveral there are lots of Alligators there. You probably need a pen pal anyway.

4. Finally write than screenplay you've been thinking about - This one is self explanatory.

3. Catch up on Karruche Tran's Instagram feed - Satellite reception is probably going to be bad up there in space, so now is your chance to like all of her pictures.  Yeah, I know it sounds contradictory that satellite reception would be worse in space considering that's where the satellites are! But the satellites are POINTED at Earth, so you need to factor that in.

2. Do everything you can to avoid thinking about Soyuz 1, Soyuz 11, STS-51-L, and STS-107 - Try not to think about these at all when you're strapped in your chair and ready to launch. You'll be a nervous wreck.

1. Call Your Mom - You never call enough and she wants to hear from you.