Houston, We have a problem!

Space Camp – Day#2

Wow!  Another fantastic day!

First thing this morning we ran our Space Shuttle Mission.  We did all of the pre-launch preps and checks, countdown, pressurization of fuel tanks, main engine and solid rocket burns, etc.  While in orbit we docked with the ISS, we did space walks to fix heat tiles, did health checks, experiments in the laboratories on board the ISS and the Orbiter.  Re-entry in to Earth’s orbit and the Shuttle landing was very exciting.  We needed to identify, solve, and overcome several anomalies.  Our Commander landed us safely.  The entire simulation lasted two hours + a 30 minute debriefing.

The "Business" End of the Shuttle!

  

Commander Jonathan practicing on a simulator before our mission.

Soon after, we worked in teams to create heat shields which would protect a raw egg from getting cooked with a blow torch.  The heat shield could not be thicker than ½ inch.  Some of the materials we could choose from were foil, copper foil, cork, cotton balls, etc.  We had 100 units to purchase materials.  The prices of materials ranged from 5 to 30 units.  Out of four teams, three were successful.

 Success!  Yes!

After lunch, we took a tour of the Honeywell’s Aviation Challenge facility.  It is a camp for students interested in flying military aircraft.  While there, we did a zip-line which simulated jumping from a helicopter into a lake.  It was a bit scary – but, exhilarating!

Simulators

Ready to climb!

This evening we built rockets (which we will launch on Tuesday) and learned the “ins” and “outs” of the Space Shuttle.  Fascinating vehicle!

We also got our assignments and briefing for our next simulated mission.  The mission is set in the year 2052.  It is purposely set in the future in hopes that by the time we reach this date, NASA will be doing something similar.  The first permanent base built was Aurora in 2045; the next base was SOCR, Shackleton Operations Control Room (or Mission Control on the Moon), in 2047.  The purpose of SOCR is to be the primary control center for all lunar operations as well as guidance for voyages to the Moon.  The last base established was Rising Star in 2048; this base was designed as an outpost strictly for research and exploration.  Three years ago, Aurora was damaged by debris from a solar storm and had to be abandoned.  Since the, all outpost operations were moved to Rising Star.

Our mission is to bring Orion, a capsule, and a Lunar Lander from Earth to the Moon with “fresh” astronauts to repair the inside and outside of Aurora.  Orion will then return to Earth with astronauts who have been on the Moon for sometime.

I have been given the job of CAPCOM (Capsule Communicator).  It is the only position that has communication with the capsule Commander.  If anomalies occur, and they will, I will need to help create solutions and relay these solutions to the crew.  I’m excited – and to tell the truth, a bit nervous.

Tomorrow morning will be here soon – so, I will sign off for now!

Is it all a dream?

Space Camp – Day#1

This has been an awesome day.  I keep pinching myself to be sure this isn’t all a dream.

I have been put on Team Unity.  There are 15 people on my team from several different states and foreign countries (India, UK, France, and Scotland).  They are an amazing group of very talented and fun loving people.  Our Team Leader is Jamie.  He is a high school history and science teacher from Huntsville, AL.

Team Unity

Laine & Whitney, two of my suite mates.

Jamie, our Team Leader

After breakfast we had a very inspirational talk from astronaut, Dr. Donald Thomas.  He is a materials specialist and has flown on four Columbia Space Shuttle missions.  He is originally from Cleveland, OH.  He studied the flammability of (International Space Station) ISS materials in zero gravity.  (Sound familiar, Ben?)

This is how something burns in space!

Team Unity with Dr. Thomas

 

Next, we received our assignments for the mock shuttle mission. People were assigned positions on the Orbiter, the ISS, and at Mission Control.  There will be six of us riding on the Orbiter: a commander, a pilot, two mission specialists, and two payload specialists.  I have been assigned the position of one of the payload specialists.  Our responsibilities include conducting experiments in the mid-deck of the orbiter, doing health checks on the mission specialists before and after their EVA (Extra-Vehicular Activity).  I also assist in activating the engine functions during launch and landing.  We all know it is a mock flight – but it still is very exciting!

Pilot Marianne, checking her controls.

As a Payload Specialist, I sit in the mid-deck at take off.  This is our remote view of the flight deck.  Commander Jonathan is from France.  Mission Specialists, Tom and Joan, are seen in the background discussing their upcoming EVA.

Mission Control

After lunch, we participated in some difficult, yet exhilarating, team building exercises at a Low Ropes course named, “Area 51”.  (Look up Area 51 – it was an interesting place!)

In the afternoon, we also learned some great STEM activities to do with our students.  Learning how to build and use a Starlab was also part of the afternoon activities.

Using ratios to determine the distance from the Earth to the Moon.

The highlight of the evening was a tour of the US Space & Rocket Center.  We just got the overall/surface tour this evening - but will visit the components in more detail later this week.

This is the "Habitat" where students stay when they are here at Space Camp.

Look!  They even have a Boeing room!

Through these doors enter

America's future Astronauts,

Scientists ane Engineers.

Saturn V Rocket

It was a full day!  Started at 7:00 a.m. and ending at 9:00 p.m.  Believe me when I say that we were busy the entire time, y’all!  This space cadet is going to bed!

Welcome to the Honeywell Educators @ Space Academy

Well - I'm on my way!  We flew through some very nice cumulus clouds. 

We have been put into teams.  My team is "Unity".  We will be doing a lot of team work activities this week including a Space Shuttle and an Orion Mission.  Tomorrow, we have an astronaut speaker.  I wonder who it will be?

This is our T-shirt logo.

Here I am.  I took this picture in the mirror (obviously)!

It is fun getting to know my "suite mates".  One is from Virginia and the other is from Texas.  We will have one more arriving later this evening.

On the plane this morning, I picked out one person I thought might be attending the Space Academy. I told her this later when we were on the shuttle bus from the airport to the Academy.

"How did you know I was going to the Space Academy?" she asked.

I replied, "Because you could not stop smiling!"

Funny . . . I cannot either!

T-minus 12 hours and counting

Hello Earthlings!

I just wanted to thank all of you for supporting me on this adventure.  I've received emails and phone calls from friends and family wishing me luck.  Even my physical therapist wants me to send her a post card!  I really feel as if I am taking all of you with me to Huntsville. 

Last evening, I had supper with my wonderfully supportive parents. Dad said that he had called John Glenn and asked him to give me some advice for the Space Academy. Glenn said that sometimes people get nauseated during the gyroscopic testing. He suggested that I take along some anti-nausea medication. As you can see in the picture, my parents provided me with some yummy ("Jelly Belly") medication.  :o)

My next post will be from the Marshal Space Flight Center!

Honeywell Space Academy for Educators