Tuesday, March 4, 2008

You Ain't Gonna Believe this...


Just completed my first official day at Space Camp. We spent the morning doing the simulations machines and ,yes, I vomited. I was the only teacher to throw up (talk about embarrassing) Oh well, makes for a good story!!! The Multi-Axis Trainer was first designed to train astronauts on what it feels like when you are tumbling back into earth's atmosphere. Once they actually got up into space they realized that the Orbiter (space ship) doesn't tumbles at all. So this is just really a simulation. Watch the video to see your teacher in action. Video is being very fickle right now. Will try again later. Here is a picture of it for now.

Keep in mind (before you go calling me a wimp) 10 minutes earlier I had eaten eggs, biscuits, pounded a cup of coffee and drank a lot of water. I could feel all of it swooshing around when I was in there. When I got off the machine I broke into a heavy sweat and knew it was all over from there. Hope you enjoy.


The picture below is a 1/6 gravity trainer so you can get a feel for what it's like when you're walking on the moon. They had us do the bunny hop, move from side to side, and slow motion jogging(the one I liked best)

The next thing was a Man Maneuvering Unit (MMU) simulator where you get strapped into this big machine and have a joy stick to move the machine around. MMU's are the machine that astronaut's use when moving around outside the orbiter.

The rest of the day consisted of our space cadet training and background information. We learned about everything that happens before a launch, during, and after. I can't wait to tell everyone about it.

I got my space suit today. It's pretty nifty and makes me feel important. Our names on our suits have to be turned upside down until we graduate from cadet training. Graduation will be Thursday night and then I will be a real Space Cadet.

Tomorrow we will be working on our mission for the rest of the week. We haven't received out positions yet but I am hoping for 1. the pilot of the Orbiter 2. A scientist at the space station 3. INCO/EVA- that's the person at mission control who is responsible for the countdown and makes sure that all systems are GO at the time of launch. It is going to be so exciting. Wish everyone was here because they have tons and tons of cool stuff and you feel really important.

Last night I got to meet and listen to Ed Buckbee who is quite a fellow. I'll tell all about him in the next post. He is the founder of Space Camp and was the Director of the Space and Rocket Center.

Question for Prizes.

The first person to correctly respond to this question will receive a goody from the Space and Rocket Center.
Are you ready? Just post your answer in the comment section...

1. What is the name of the first person to walk in space?
Pay careful attention to the question

Talk to everyone soon. Miss you.
p.s. I did learn today how astronaut's use the bathroom in space. Its verrry interesting.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

When my mom showed me your blog, I knew the answer!!! Alexei Leonov was the first person to walk in space.

Anonymous said...

wear do astronauts use the bathroom when there in their suits?

Anonymous said...

from carter (anonymous)

Anonymous said...

from carter (anonymous)daniels

Anonymous said...

i say alexei leonov was definetly the first person to walk in space i hope im right

Anonymous said...

i say alexei leanov. i am cole abernathy find me at your school please i want the prize.

Anonymous said...

When you threw up were people laughing at you. Was it fun

Anonymous said...

Well i just saw this and was thinking that it is alexei leonov.

Anonymous said...

Rhett Freeman- Alexei Leonov was the first person to walk in space.I knew this because I know it from 4th grade lol. Agian mrs. Winzeler have fun on your trip.