Simulators

The Center has many simulators which allow the students to experience some of the experiences of the astronauts.

This strange-looking capsule gives the feeling of riding in a rover.  The seats tilt and move.  A video provides a realistic view.  

The Space Shot simulates the feel of a rocket launch.  Riders soar 140 feet straight up in 2.5 seconds.  The campers experience 4 G's of force on the way up, two to three seconds of weightlessness, then a 1G free fall back to Earth.



On the G-Force Accelerator, campers feel the same force of gravity the astronauts experience during a space shuttle launch.  As the G-force Accelerator spins faster and faster, riders endure three times the force of gravity and lift up off their feet temporarily during the ride.

Rock Climbing

 

The Teacher's Mission

Mission Training is one of the most exciting activities during Space Camp.  

Each team member is assigned a role to play during a mission.  The flight crew include the commander, pilot, mission specialist 1 and mission specialist 2.  In mission control, the flight director, GNC (guidance, navigation and control),  EVA (extravehicular activity), FDO (flight dynamics officer, CAPCOM (capsule communicator) and Science guide the shuttle during their voyage.  

All will work together to successfully launch a shuttle, orbit the earth and complete a spacewalk assignment and reenter Earth's atmosphere.

In the beginning of the week, the teachers are assigned a mission to complete.  Experience in the "hot seat" enable us to better assist the students in their missions.

Suddenly during a mission, screens will flash red indicating an "anomaly".   The team must work quickly to solve the cause of the problem and bring the crew home safely. 

 View of the shuttle from Mission Control.

A safe landing!  The teacher mission was a success!

Tornado Warning

Monday afternoon brought some severe weather here in Alabama.  Fortunately, the U.S. Space and Rocket Center is a designated safe area for the town of Huntsville.

Team America had just sat down with a warm dinner when we were told to leave everything and move into a safe area.

There we remained with all of the other teams for the next 2 hours.  

Our campers handled the schedule change with amazing maturity.  The only complaint was a desire to return to their uneaten dinners.  Eventually, bag lunches including sandwiches and chips were provided for those who had not eaten.





When we were given the "All Clear" the campers returned safely to the Hab.  
The tornadoes touched down in neighboring towns, but we were unaffected.

Moving Into the Hab

While at Space Camp, the campers will to get used to using space lingo.  The water fountain is called the H2O dispenser.  Bathrooms are called Waste Management and dorms are habitats or "The Hab".

We only had to walk a short distance from the hotel to the Hab.

This sign hangs on the door informing us that we have arrived at a place that will change our life forever.

A scientist named Wernher von Braun established the first Space Camp here in Huntsville in 1982.  He wanted to give children the chance to see what it would be like to be an astronaut.

The Hab has four levels.   

Three or the levels are living quarters. 

 Roger moved into a room on level 2.

 







Sarah and Sarah will share a bunk on level 4.

The campers' schedule will keep them busy from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm.

The only "free time" campers will enjoy in the Hab is 30 minutes to wake-up and dress each morning and 30 minutes to prepare for bed each night.

After unpacking, we headed to orientation where the Space Camp rules were discussed.

We learned that we would be members of the America Team.  We met our afternoon team leader Paul and got to know the other team members.




There are 10 campers on our team.  We also have three interpreters, two teachers, and a morning and evening team leader.