The first full day of camp.

The weather in Alabama was warm and sunny today.

The campers began their day with a scrambled egg breakfast and were surprised to discover that Tang really is the energy drink of astronauts.

After breakfast, the teachers headed to complete a mission.  During a mission, individuals are assigned various positions and complete normal tasks that an astronaut would perform on the Space Station, in Mission Control and on a shuttle. 

David, a chaperone from WPSD and I were scientists on the Space Station.  We were given a minute by minute itinerary to follow which included resetting power switches, emptying waste and checking altitude and velocity to ensure that the Space Station did not fly too low and burn up.  We encountered some emergencies and are happy to report that Mission Control did keep us safe. 



Because we were scientists, David and I were given experiments to conduct.  In the first experiment, we mixed together two chemicals and created a polymer.  The solutions expanded and emitted heat.






 The second experiment involved one of us spinning repeatedly in a chair.  The other scientist was required to record various data on the spinning subjects feelings of dizziness and how the effects of the spinning could be eliminated more quickly.  I am very grateful that David willingly accepted the role of the spinning scientist.  I would not have been able to endure the excessive turning.

While the teachers were completing our assigned mission, the students headed over to the aviation center to learn how to fly a plane.

 They were trained on the function and use of each control in the cockpit. 







I have never seen them so excited as when the instructor set them free to try the simulator on their own. 







Many crashes later, several campers did achieve a successful take-off and landing.

 I tried my hand at the controls, but was sadly unable to get off the ground.  :(






Our daytime team leader, Josh, led the group outside to explain how the flaps on the planes control movement.

 We escaped the Alabama sun for a short time as Josh taught us how to survive on our own in the wilderness without any supplies.  It was fascinating to learn that all black and blue berries are edible.  Only 5% of green and white berries are edible.  50% of red berries are edible.  We were shown a technique for trapping fish in a stream making them easier to catch.

In the evening, the group rehearsed their lines for the mission they will be carrying out later in the week.










The final task of the evening was for each camper to build their own rocket. 

The completed rockets will be shot off on Wednesday evening.

Team Earhart

 High temperatures of 86* in Huntsville today.

Paola and Ryane woke-up bright and early this morning.   We enjoyed a buffet breakfast at the Marriott before joining the students from WPSD for a swim in the hotel pool.







After drying off, the girls  lugged their suitcases over to the Habitat at 11:00.  Jocelyn led them to their new home. 

 The Habitat room was different than anything we have seem before.

  

 L.T.  felt right at home helping Ryane and Paola make their beds.  

Ryane seemed settle right in.  She finally took time for a short rest.

 Our whole group headed into the Alabama heat for a picture underneath the Pathfinder Shuttle. 











The Shuttle is so large that this car looks like toy in its shadow. 

 

 We found refuge from the sun underneath the belly of the aircraft. 


                                                                                                       Here is an actual engine.


We headed inside the museum for some rock climbing.



We entered a Mars exploration simulator and felt what it would be like to ride a space buggy on a roller coaster.









Paola and Ryane tried their skill in the Flight Simulator.

They posed for a picture of what they will look like in their astronaut suits.

For lunch, we were expecting freeze-dried prepackaged meals.   Instead, we were served ham or turkey on a bun.










The afternoon was spent exploring and riding the Space Shot and G-Force rides.

At 4:00, we learned ALL of the camp rules, and were broken-up into teams.  Our team is called Earhart. 


 Rebecca is our team leader. 







We gathered under Pathfinder to get to know each other and play some games.









Dinner consisted of hamburgers, chips, beans and cookies.  

After dinner, the teachers attended a training meeting while the students watch a movie.

In order to better understand the students' experience, the teachers will be completing a "mission" tomorrow morning.  I will be "conducting experiments" on the Space Station with a teacher from WPSD.  In the case of an unexpected emergency,  five teachers in "Mission Control" are being trained to solve the most difficult problems.

Check back tomorrow to see if the Space Station will still be functional after the mission.

The Adventure Begins

We arrived at the airport at 9:15.  Our families came to see us off on our space adventure.

Going through security was an ordeal.  We were warned about taking off our coats and shoes.  Requiring Paola to remove her  belt seemed a little extreme.  

Three minutes in the massage chair helped to calm our nerves.

Finally on the plane, the girls enjoyed a soda.  The plane ride went very smoothly.  We arrived in Huntsville to temperatures in the 80's.  We checked into the hotel and were treated to a personal tour of the Aviation Museum.

 This is a model of the Space Shuttle.

 Large replicas of rockets surround us.  Every where we turn, there is something new to explore.

 The Space Shot looks innocent enough.  Actually, the sudden free-fall from 300 feet caught the three of us by surprise.  We are still looking for our stomachs.  Next, we experienced 3G's in a large centrifuge.  That was fun!

                                                      Ryane looks like a natural.  

We have had a long day of traveling and exploring.  Our evening ended with a long awaited dip in the pool.  The temperature of the water is warmer than bath water.

 Time to get some rest.  Visions of moon walks, weightlessness, and toothpaste tubes full of food dance in our heads.

Tomorrow, the real fun begins!!!