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.