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Attending Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama
by Robert Balwinder
http://www.alabamah.com
Attending the Space Camp sponsored by NASA at Huntsville,
Alabama is every kids dream. It gives them the real life
experience of what it is like to be an astronaut. It
enriches their life with the most meaningful and interesting
experiences. Most of these one-week programs are combined
with other community programs, such as 4-H.
The Space Camp program in Alabama has an age limit, and
the full camp is available to kids who are at least 12 years
old. Of course, there are special programs at the center for
younger kids that offer many activities they do not quite
appreciate. However, it gives them the chance to assert that
they are old enough to be away from home.
The programs and activities at Space Camp are designed to
awaken creativity and curiosity. The kids learn to design a
lunar colony, and attend classes and seminars to know about
the history of the space program. They learn about the
Soviet space program as well as the United States program in
these classes. They are also taken on trips to the museum to
gain an education experience.
But Space Camp would not be fun if sitting in classes and
designing lunar colonies is all that went on. There are
life size mock-ups of space shuttles to explore. The
quarters themselves (complete with bunks) look like they
could be on a space station or colony, not somewhere in
Alabama. But the best part of Space Camp is the "astronaut
training."
All kids who attend Space Camp are put through astronaut
training. Space suits are fitted for the kids so they get to
experience what that feels like. There are centrifuge rides
to help the kids feel the pressure of gravity and zero
gravity simulations to help them experience weightlessness.
Using simulators, they are also taught to "fly" spacecraft
like the shuttle. Not to forget, the kids can use a
contraption that helps them experience what it feels like to
walk on the moon.
Once the training is complete all the Space Camp
participants are given the opportunity to run a simulated
mission. Everyone on board the ship is assigned a specific
role such as that of a pilot, or a payload specialist to
play in completing the mission successfully. Special
attention is paid to sequencing and time because these
elements are important in real space missions. If you make a
mistake, your simulator shakes you around and you know what
it is like to crash and burn.
If there is enough time, a group may have the opportunity
to run the mission more than once, allowing people a chance
to experience different roles. It is a fun experience for
the Space Campers, as they get to do more, learn more about
the space program.
Space Camp is an effective and fun way to spark an interest
in space and in science. Kids go through a practical program
in a learning atmosphere that transports them far away from
its location in Huntsville, Alabama.
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