Latest Camp Survey Results

Results:  EdVenture Camp 2.  June 13-15, 2012

These are the results from the second EdVenture Camp's camper surveys of the 2012 Season. Congratulations to the Galileo for summiting our Mt. Everest and scoring the perfect and elusive 1.0! 

Galileo:  1.00  (Stacy Carroll Set Director. Flight Directors Stacy, Erin, Ben)
Voyager:  1.07
Magellan:  1.09
Odyssey:  1.15
Phoenix: 1.24
Class:  1.45
Come Back:  1.14
Satisfaction Index:  9.45

Summer Comparisons:
Lagoon:  1.23
Movies:  1.12
Mall:  1.09
Waterparks:  1.20

Lord of the Votes:  Bracken
SubLord of the Votes:  Bradyn

Results:  Overnight Camp 4  June 19-20. 

Odyssey:  1.08 (Devin Flight Director)
Galileo:  1.13
Phoenix:  1.13
Magellan:  1.15
Voyager:  1.16
Satisfaction Index:  9.20

Lord of the Votes:  Bradyn L.
SubLord of the Votes:  Ben M.

Typing Without My Glasses

Hello Troops,

Tonight our Space Center world resembles its familiar self.  The girls are in the gym, the boys are in the Voyager and I'm back at my desk.  It is nice not to be chaperoning in the gym. I'm OK to chaperon in the gym when I'm needed , but I get more sleep in front of my desk, and at this stage of the summer camp season, any extra REM sleep is a very good thing.

The title of this post gives away tonight's problem.  In my haste to get here on time, and not being careful and diligent in the preparation of my overnight kit, I've forgotten to pack a pair of glasses.  My neglectfulness was discovered right after removing my contact lenses for the night.  I could put my contacts back on, but I decided not to.  I can still see well enough if I squint and squinting will get me through the night - just like it is getting me through this post.

     

Close your eyes and picture me at my desk.  It is 11:57 P.M.  I'm leaning forward and squinting to see what I'm typing.  One unwelcome sneeze and my entire screen will look like a frosted window on a cold winter's morn.  

I'm always forgetting something.  Last camp i remembered my shampoo and towel but forgot a comb or brush.  Ever try to comb your hair with your fingers after a good shampoo?  It's like trying to play the violin with gloved hands.  

 Fortuna has blessed us with an unusually long string of luck.  Here is one example.  There was a 20 minute power outage this morning at 8:10 A.M. We weren't affected because our first missions were scheduled to arrive at 10:00 A.M. Had this power outage occurred Wednesday, we would have been in deep dodo.  Wednesday will be a camp day.  We hope that Luck will remain a constant travelling companion and chaos and bad fortune find there way to some other organization's camps.

Its time for bed.  I'm finding myself battling fatigue and nearsightedness with a strong astigmatism.  

Mr. W.  

      

Chinese First Manned Docking with Space Station

 

In foreground, Tiangong 1 station obscures the Shenzhou-9 Spacecraft. Credit CCTV.

The Chinese space program completed a major step in their efforts to rival the USA and USSR in space achievements this weekend. It began with the launch of a Long March 2f rocket from the Jiuquan Space Center in the Gansu Province. The Saturday launch in the Shenzhou-9 spacecraft immediately achieved another first for China, as the three-taikonaut crew carried the first Chinese woman to orbit.

Long March rocket roll-out to the pad. Credit: CCTV.

The Long March is carried to the pad by a large crawler, while the crowd gets a great close up view.

Credit: CCTV

Long March at gantry, as support scaffolding moves to embrace it. Chinese Shenzou spacecraft follow Russian Soyuz design, but launch facilities seem to follow Western concepts. Credit: CCTV

Blast off! Credit China Academy of Launch Technology.

After the liftoff on Saturday, the Shenzhou-9 carried the crew to rendezvous with the Tiangong-1 Orbital Module. Previously, an unmanned Shenzhou spacecraft had been remotely piloted to the station and ground controllers had practiced docking procedures. Now, early on Monday morning, the spacecraft docked with a crew of three: Commander Jing Haipeng opened the hatch a few hours later, and was followed inside by Liu Wang.

Inside the module. Hatch opens and Jing Haipeng, on his second spaceflight, waves to the camera. Credit: CCTV

Jing Haipeng approaches the camera while Liu Wang enters the hatch in background.

Admittedly, the interior of the module seems spartan and empty compared to the packed but roomy ISS modules or the often cluttered Russian space stations of the past. Of course the camera lens is allowing a wider view which makes it look a little wider than it actually is, but it still looks nice and orderly in there. Well, let's see how it looks as they get used to working in the module. Meanwhile, China's first woman in space, Liu Yang, remained in the Shenzhou-9 to monitor operations while the module base was established. Eventually she also made her way into the Tiangong-1.

Liu Yang in the cramped Shenzhou cabin. Now, THIS looks more like a Soyuz... Credit:CCTV

The Shenzhou-9 crew inside Tiangong-1, sending greetings to Earth.

Credit is given where credit is due, and the Chinese have certainly performed a great feat in their space efforts with this mission. The people of China must certainly be proud of their accomplishments, and all space buffs are happy to cheer them on and wish them a successful mission. One thing for certain. their TV transmissions were better than the ones that came from the Russian Mir station... ; )

By Mark Daymont

Space Center Educator

From his blog

Spacerubble.blogspot.com