Spencer considers the consequences..... So tempting. He's always dreamed of a week's vacation in a Magellan escape pod. |
Christa McAuliffe Space Education Center Summer Camps
It's time to book your Space Center summer camp. The CMSEC is offering great new missions and experiences for children ages 10-16. Sign up for an early camp and spark your imagination all summer.
Don't miss this chance to attend something unforgettable.
Day - 8:30-5:30 - $40
Extended - 10:00-8:30 - $65
2 Day - 9:00-9:00 for 2 days - $150
Renaissance Academy's Farpoint and Voyager Space Clubs Finish the 2016-2017 School Year.Extended - 10:00-8:30 - $65
2 Day - 9:00-9:00 for 2 days - $150
The Middle / High School Dragons Were the Last Squadron to Finish the Long Duration Mission on Saturday |
This has been a year for the record books at Renaissance Academy's Farpoint Space Education Center in Lehi. Twenty-seven squadrons composed of nine cadets each participated in the first of its kind after school STEM space club covering grades three through tenth. Each squadron met five times between January and the end of May. The meetings alternated between missions in the school's Voyager simulator and classroom lessons centered on the mission's objectives and curriculum.
The Middle/High school Dragon Squadron was the last of the 27 teams to complete their mission on Saturday. Maeson Busk was their talented flight director.
Maeson working the controls solo. Talk about a one man band! |
There will be a few changes coming to next year's club. Cadets in the elementary school squadrons will be called Young Astronauts. I'm taking the program back to its roots, my first Young Astronaut Club I directed at Central Elementary School in the 1980's. Middle and high school cadets will be called Voyagers. Alex DeBirk will start a Voyager chapter at American Heritage School in American Fork. The American Heritage Voyagers will have their club meetings at American Heritage and their missions on the Voyager.
Contact me if you'd like to sponsor a Young Astronaut or Voyager Club at your school.
Mr. Williamson
director@spacecamutah.org
Brooke Walker references her 6th-grade field trip back in the day to Alpine School District's Christa McAuliffe Space Education Center in this recent interview with Ryan Anderson from TDSC aired on KSL's Studio 5. Big shout out to the CMSEC!
Telos Discovery Space Center's Summer Promotion Commercial
Want something fun and challenging to do this summer? Look no further than TDSC's Ultimate Camp and Leadership Camp! Visit discoveryspacecenter.com/space-camp for more info and to book your spot.
Space News
By Mark Daymont
Farpoint Space Education Center Educator
Spacerubble.blogspot.com
Equipment Failure on ISS Triggers Unplanned EVA
It doesn't happen often on the ISS, but when a critical electrical command component breaks down, it's great to know there's a backup system in place. In this case, on May 20 the EXT-1 MDM electrical command controller went down. It controlled external US segment systems, which includes things like the Mobile Transporter (MT), Secondary Electrical Power System (SEPS), Passive Thermal Control System (PTCS), and a couple of Truss rotary joints. When the system failed, the EXT-2 took over right away so there was no degradation of systems. However, if THAT item were to fail, NASA would have lost control over the facing direction of the solar radiators and several other critical station systems along the Truss.
Astronaut Jack Fischer moves along the outside of a module.
Immediately the decision was made to go outside and replace the broken equipment. Using components stored aboard the station for such a situation, a new EXT-1 was assembled and tested. Then on May 23, astronauts Peggy Whitson (Commander of Expedition 51) and Jack Fischer made a short spacewalk of over two hours. The mission event was a success, and systems are back to normal.
This EVA brings Peggy Whitson into the top three record holders for time spent on spacewalks. Currently, the Russians hold the lead.
You can read more details of the operation at NASA SpaceFlight.com: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/05/spacewalkers-unplanned-eva-replace-failed-ext-1-mdm/