Mission Highlights
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Congratulations to Frankie from the Armstrong team. Frankie was selected as the recipient of the "Right Stuff" award. Right Stuff is presented to trainees who have displayed the characteristics of the United States space explorers.
"We look for qualities such as leadership, sound decision making, and the seeking and sharing of knowledge. Right stuff award recipients are young adults who have demonstrated that they are preparing today to be the space explorers of tomorrow."
Way to go Frankie!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Creating Effective TeamsArea 51 is an experience designed to boost morale, strengthen teams, motivate and inspire. Staged in the woods, it provides a break from technology and a welcome immersion in a setting that only nature can provide.
Our academy team participated in the Leadership Reaction Course. They were split into smaller groups and a leader was designated for each obstacle. The term obstacle best describes the mental and collaborative challenges. The activities are not really physically demanding.
Focus and cooperation are absolutely critical. Some tasks required several attempts. It is so difficult that actually completing the task is of secondary importance. We hope the facial expressions as captured in photographs are sufficient to convey the level of their determination.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Missions: Houston, we have lost contact...You can plan and you can train, but some things just happen. In mission-speak, these are called anomalies. Camp mission coordinators are adept at presenting teams with situations that our crews must respond to. Team Calypso encountered an anomaly that even the staff hadn't planned - communication failure.
At some point the radio headsets went out and contact with the space station crew was lost. Was the problem resolved? And if so, how? You'll just have to conduct your own mission debriefing.
Note: The Rocket Center has a audion visual monintoring room for chaperones to watch and record the missions. We are recording the missions to DVD.
Monday, May 4, 2009
The Camp and Academy students have now met their day and night counselors. They are learning to function as a team. Every activity is designed to provide the knowledge and training that will prepare them for the upcoming missions.
The amount and rate of new information presented is remarkable. Their comprehension and retention actually exceed their ability to articulate or explain the activities. This is in part due to the use of a special vocabulary.
So we had an idea, provide a framework of questions related to the day's activities. Here are some questions you might ask your child about things you see in the photographs.
- MAT: What is the purpose of the Multi-Axis Trainer?
- MAT: Why don't people get sick on it?
- MMU: How did you control the direction and movement of the Manned Maneuvering Unit?
- Mars Mission: How did you get to Mars?
- Mars Mission: What was the station like?
- Mars Mission: Did you go out onto the surface?
- Mars Mission: Did you have to use an airlock?
- Mars Mission: What is an airlock?
- 1/6th Gravity Chair: How much would you weigh on the Moon?
- Missions: What is a mission?
- Missions: What is your role or job in each mission?
Greetings from Huntsville, Alabama!
This page is the launching point for following our campers' experience at Space Camp. We'll make notes about their activities and post them nightly. Note the link to the images. You'll see hundred of photographs, and movies too!