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Huntsville, Alabama's Space Camp
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.
As expected, there is an age limit at the Space Camp in
Alabama with the full camp program being offered only to
kids of twelve and above. Many of the activities organized
at the camp are likely to be problematic for younger kids
and also, the kid needs to be old enough to stay for the
week away from home. However, some special programs are
offered at the center even for younger kids.
The programs and activities at Space Camp are such to
awaken creativity and curiosity. There are exercises in
designing a lunar colony, and classes and seminars about
the history of the space program. These classes include the
Soviet space program as well as the United States program.
Trips to the museum are also provided for 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.
The "training" is followed by a simulated mission. A role is
given to every participant on board the space ship (e.g.,
payload specialist, pilot, space walk etc). To show the kids
how important time and sequencing is in real space missions,
the simulator is designed to shake around, if you mess up on
any of the steps. However if you work as a team, you can
complete the mission successfully.
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.
Kids can spark off an interest in science and Space after
attending Space Camp. This unique program provides a
complete Space learning experience that takes the kids away
into an exciting world so different from its actual location
in Huntsville, Alabama.
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