Paola, Ryane and I woke-up once again to the Alabama heat.  Paola and I are READY to go home.  Ryane on the other hand, would like to move permanently to Huntsville.

The morning began with the typical space camp breakfast, followed by graduation rehearsal and then..........Graduation!!!

All of the campers from the week assembled in the graduation room wearing their camp T-shirts.







The color of the T-shirt identified the program that the campers participated in.  Our shirts were red because the students learned about both Aviation and Space.  The high school students from WPSD wore green shirts because they were involved in the Advanced Academy.

Each team was called onto the stage to receive their graduation certificate.

Team Earhart was called back to the stage to receive a special award for designing the best team patch.  The campers had worked together through the week to create a patch unique to their team.

The Top Dog award in airplane combat fighting went to Cassie from WPSD.  Ryane held the number 2 position.

Ethan, also from WPSD,  received the over-all camper award.  The Pennsylvania campers made us proud!

 After graduation, all of the Pennsylvania students stood for one final photo.  Through the week, these students became my own.  When it was time to claim the girls for the flight home, I forgot that I only had two.

 Ryane and Paola wanted one last photo in front of Pathfinder.

We boarded the van and headed to the airport.  We arrived with time to relax before the flight home.

Ryane and Paola are looking forward to showing off their red Space Camp shirts.   We are on our way home with many stories to share.  :)

Top Dog

The campers have been working hard to improve their flying ability.  Everyday, they have learned new maneuvers and sharpened their skills.  Today, the group competed in a tournament to determine who was the Top Dog.  Two by two, the campers tried to a maneuver each other.  The best fliers continued on until the highest score was found.

The official scores will not be announced until graduation tomorrow, but .....  I can say that these two PA girls were the last ones in the cockpit. 

The final simulator we tried was the 5DF.  Ryane enjoyed rocking and turning.  She tried moving along in a simulated weightless environment.

Mission Possible

After much rehearsing, Team Earhart actually performed their mission on Wednesday.




The campers were nervous and excited as they put-on their flight suits.

                                                       They posed for their team photo. 






Here are the four Earhart members from WPSD and SSDHHC.

 

Like a proud mother, I was photographed with Paola and Ryane before lift-off.

During the mission, Paola and Cassie were assigned the jobs of scientists aboard the International Space Station.

 They conducted experiments and checked vital information to be sure the ISS remained in orbit.

Ryan was in Mission Control.  She was responsible for helping to solve any crisis situations that occurred. 

On the Enterprise, the pilot, co-pilot, and mission specialists, contacted Mission Control before performing any operations.

The Mission Specialists had the task of walking in space and setting up special equipment.  















The staff was very proud and impressed when Team Earhart completed their mission within the time restraints.  They successfully took-off, completed the experiments, performed the space walk, returned the specialists safely to the shuttle and landed!!!   Many teams do not complete all of the mission on time.  When "anomalies" occurred, the group worked together and came up with a solution.  What a wonderful team!

Rockets and weightlessness.

After many days of waiting,  I can finally tell my children that I have experienced what it would be like to walk on the moon.  Today, we practiced hopping, walking and running with 1/6th gravity.

 




The team was also able to launch the rockets that were built on Monday.  Each of our rockets flow high into the sky and gently parachuted back to the ground.  I am hoping that the recovered rockets will make it through airplane security on Friday.

The Davidson Center for Space Exploration

At various times during the week, the campers hold their lessons in The Davidson Center for Space Exploration.

 

  The building is huge - 476 feet long, 90 feet wide and 63 feet high.  Suspended 10 feet above the floor is the restored Saturn V.  The Saturn V is 363 feet tall and was built with more than 3 million parts. 



As we entered the building, I was in awe of the giant rocket hanging from the ceiling.  It is so educational to be a able to walk under and examine each part of the rocket. 














Our schedule is packed.  The group is moved from one activity to another with little time to relax.






The campers are so full of questions that the presenters have difficulty completing the presentations on time.  We have been told that this group of deaf students is one of the most inquisitive group of campers to go through the program so far (hearing and deaf combined).

Here the students are learning about the early space missions and rockets.

 Looking at a man standing beside this rocket engine, you can see its size and intricate design.

A special ceremony will take place in the museum later today to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Boeing.  Many important men and woman in the field of Aviation and Aeronautics will be visiting the U.S. Space and Rocket Center.



I had the pleasure of talking to a amazing gentleman yesterday who actually designed and built the first land rovers used on the moon.  I plan to take some time today to soak in more stories about the beginnings of space travel in the U.S.A.