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Published: July 20th 2010
Space Shuttle Orbiter Pathfinder
I learned today that the Pathfinder was created as a non-flight orbiter to test transport, maneuvering on land and hauling of the actual orbiters.WOW! Today was full of information & adventure. It started bright & early with the alarm going off at 6:30A.M. We had to be dressed & on the bus for 7:30. We had a great breakfast & orientation where we got the opportunity to socialize with other teachers. In my dorm there are 4 of us... Stacy from L.A., Melissa from Alabama & Kathy from Virginia. (Kathy is the only one not in my mission group.) In orientation I was assigned to mission group "Columbus" with 14 others & we did some icebreaker activities to get to know each others. We have some folks that are a laugh riot & I'm sure they're really fun in the classroom. After all that team building we went to the auditorium for a 1 hour Shuttle Orientation lecture. I was thinking, oh no... as I'm not really good at sitting still. BUT (and that's a big but), Rhonda's lecture was AWESOME! I had no idea about all the things on the shuttle and about the shuttles that she taught us. It did not feel light an hour at all as I was totally fascinated. Fortunately, all of us will get a copy of her
The Pathfinder again
It is the same size and weight of the actual flight worthy orbiters. It allowed for all this maneuvering and testing without the risk to the sensitive equipment. It is just massive in size. presentation. I'm afraid, however, that I will only remember 15% of what it all means. Some pieces that I remember - most of the parts in the shuttle are totally reusable, even the fuel tanks that get ejected after take off. The just clean them up & refill them. The shuttle goes from 0-17,500 mph in only 8.5 minutes. WHAT!??!! That is so crazy fast I can't even imagine. And so much more, but my brain is so tired I can't remember.
After lunch we learned about the mission jobs - some at mission control @ Kennedy & Johnson Space Centers, some on the orbiter (shuttle) and some at the space station. We got to rank our preferred roles for our missions. Like I said, our mission group is called Columbus & there are 15 teachers from all over the US in our group. For our first mission, the Discovery mission, I am the INCO/EVA, which basically means that I'm in charge of ensuring all systems are safe for launch, that weather conditions are clear at launch/landing & emergency sites, I GET TO DO THE FINAL COUNT DOWN! (T minus 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.. lift off), and I'm
My job - INCO/EVA
This is my station & screen for the Discovery mission. It is basically my spot in the MOCR - or Mission Operations Control Room as they'd have in Kennedy & Johnson Space Centers. responsible for communicating with the astronauts conducting the space walk to inspect heat panels on the shuttle. We got to do a practice run of just some of the pieces today during training. And, let me tell you, it is stressful. Sure, it is a simulation, but there is just SO MUCH GOING ON. Tomorrow is our mission & hopefully we all pull it off. Our 2nd mission is on Thursday & I don't yet know my role for that one. Hopefully I'll be a Mission Specialist (and get to harness up for a space walk) or I'll get to be a pilot.
Somewhere in this action filled day we also made model rockets, which we'll launch later in the week AND learned a bunch of really cool lesson ideas for curriculum integration.
Tomorrow we have our Discovery mission, astronaut simulations & an aquatic aviation challenge. I can hardly wait I'm so excited. Thank goodness I'm so exhausted.... otherwise I'd never be able to fall asleep.
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Audrey Goldstein
non-member comment
So Cool!
Hi, I just read your blogs, how cool. You are going to be even more popular at school with the students and probably some teachers too! I am looking foreard to hearing more about your days at camp. TTFN, Audrey