My Journey To Space Camp 2011

Space Camp

U.S. Space Camp is owned and operated by the Alabama Space Science Exhibit Commission d.b.a. U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. "Space Camp" refers to both the actual camp and a family of related camp programs offered year-round by the facility. The camp provides residential and day camp educational programs for children in various age groups and adults. These programs include space oriented camp programs, aircraft themed Aviation Challenge camps, and outdoor oriented X-Camp programs, with the intent to promote science, engineering, aviation and exploration.

I went to Advanced Space Academy, where we experienced many simulations, lectures, missions and several challenging tasks! Missions were all about learning how the Space Shuttle works, in the space as well as on ground! Simulations too were all based on getting us feel the excitement of going to Space, which included Space Shot, 1/6^th Gravity Chair, and Centrifuge and many more. Lectures were too based on the working and development of Space Shuttle, while the challenges required Physical and Mental ability, these included Rocket Building and its successful launch and some other engineering challenges. Another challenging part was “AREA 51” Most dangerous of all was ‘POLE CLIMBING’: you had to climb 100 feet up on a skeletal pole and after reaching the top, jump and hit the rope up there, but still it was an amazing experience! The second one was ‘Wall Climbing’ where two members were tied together and had to climb up the wall without losing each others support. It was  a test of teamwork rather than of ability. Finally it was graduation ceremony where we were given our Certificates and other stuff!

My Experience:

Overall my experience was awesome there! All the activities simply boosted up my character.

Jupiter | Fifth planet from the Sun

Jupiter (a.k.a. "Jove") was the King of the Roman Gods and the patron of the Roman state. To the ancient Greeks, he was known as Zeus, ruler of the Greek Gods and Mount Olympus.

This is the symbol for Jupiter:

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Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun and by far the largest of all nine planets. Jupiter is more than twice as massive as all the other planets combined - It's 318 times bigger than the Earth!

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Jupiter does not have a solid surface due to its gaseous composition. The swirls and bands we see when looking at Jupiter are the tops of clouds high in its atmosphere.

Venus, Second Planet from the Sun, Brightest Planet in Solar System

Venus's History & Naming
Venus, the second planet from the Sun, is named for the ancient Roman goddess of love and beauty. The planet — the only planet named after a female — may have been named for the most beautiful deity of her pantheon because it shone the brightest of the five planets known to ancient astronomers.


Physical Characteristics of the Planet Venus
Venus and Earth are often called twins because they are similar in size, mass, density, composition and gravity. However, the similarities end there.
Venus is the hottest world in the solar system. Although Venus is not the planet closest to the sun, its dense atmosphere traps heat in a runaway version of the greenhouse effect that warms up the Earth. As a result, temperatures on Venus reach 870 degrees F (465 degrees C), more than hot enough to melt lead. Probes that scientists have landed there have survived only a few hours before getting destroyed.

Space Camp

SPACE CAMP | A VIRTUAL JOURNEY TO SPACE

U.S. Space Camp is owned and operated by the Alabama Space Science Exhibit Commission d.b.a. U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. "Space Camp" refers to both the actual camp and a family of related camp programs offered year-round by the facility. The camp provides residential and day camp educational programs for children in various age groups and adults. These programs include space oriented camp programs, aircraft themed Aviation Challenge camps, and outdoor oriented X-Camp programs, with the intent to promote science, engineering, aviation and exploration.

Advanced Space Academy

Advanced Space Academy is designed for 15–18 year olds. There are two tracks offered: Pilot and Mission Specialist.
Mission Specialists:

• You get to learn about the engineering of the Shuttle and Space Station, just in case something needs a quick repair.
• Aeronautical engineering basics to get you started.
• You'll take a spin in our Underwater Astronaut Trainer^** (UAT) to get the feel for spacewalking.
• During missions, participate in Space Station science and make any needed repairs to your vehicle or satellites on an EVA.
• In Mission Control, help the back-room Tiger Team recreate anomalies
• Go up in the virtual space, and repair and manipulate the satellites

Pilot: 

• Pilot Track trainees are responsible for the safety of their crew in space.

China launches communications satellite for Pakistan

China today launched a communications satellite for Pakistan, as the two all weather allies opened a "new platform" in space collaboration to further cement their strategic

relationship.The successful launch of PAKSAT-1R from Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in China's Sichuan Province was witnessed by a high power Pakistan delegation, which included Defence Secretary Gen (retd) Syed Ather Ali and Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir.The satellite built and financed by China will provide a range of services, including broadband Internet, telecom and broadcasting, besides defence applications.The satellite will be deployed at 380E in the Geo-stationary orbit and it will replace the existing satellite

NASA Spacecraft Data Suggest Water Flowing on Mars

 

PASADENA, Calif. -- Observations from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter have revealed possible flowing water during the warmest months on Mars.
"NASA's Mars Exploration Program keeps bringing us closer to determining whether the Red Planet could harbor life in some form,” NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said, “and it reaffirms Mars as an important future destination for human exploration."
Dark, finger-like features appear and extend down some Martian slopes during late spring through summer, fade in winter, and return during the next spring. Repeated observations have tracked the seasonal changes in these recurring features on several steep slopes in the middle latitudes of Mars' southern hemisphere.
"The best explanation for these observations so far is the flow of briny water," said Alfred McEwen of the University of Arizona, Tucson. McEwen is the principal investigator for the orbiter's High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) and lead author of a report about the recurring flows published in Thursday's edition of the journal Science.