Post date: Apr 13, 2017 2:46:48 AM
Each participant of the program has the opportunity to complete an authentic STEM training experience. My experience was completing three different virtual reality astronaut training simulators. This was one of the most incredible things I have ever experienced. Details on the simulations I completed, our tour of the Neutral Buoyancy Lab (a 40 foot deep pool that contains a full scale replica of the ISS), a description of the rest of the day, and pictures and videos are below. Tomorrow we have our final device testing (watch from 8:00am-9:00am!) and will have a tour of the ISS replicas!
Astronaut Training Simulators
Using the Canada arm of the ISS to capture the SpaceX Dragon vehicle
The Canada arm is controlled from the cupola of the ISS (the dome with all the windows)
The simulator is like being in a small scale omni-theater (picture watching an omni film at the science museum, but having your own personal dome theater)
The goal is to use the arm to capture an 11 inch pin on the Dragon
The movement of the arm is controlled by a joystick that lets the arm move along 3 axes (left to right, up and down, forward and back) simultaneously (for example you can move forward, up, and right at the same time)
Just like a video game, you watch the cross hairs on the computer screen and use the joystick to lock the cross hairs into the target on Dragon
As Dragon gets closer to the arm it becomes more challenging to lock in on the target
The goal for astronauts is to have smooth, steady motions
I was the first in my group to try so I didn’t have the benefit of watching anyone else, but I successfully captured Dragon with the Canada arm!
Docking the Orion spacecraft to the ISS
The plans for the Orion spacecraft have changed and they will no longer be docking it to the ISS, however the simulator is still being used
This was very different from the Canada arm because the movements were much slower. Our trainer talked about the proper “pilot stance.” After making a movement, cross your arms and wait so that you don’t move too quickly.
The goal is to reach a specific speed range and then gently use thrusters to make sure Orion is moving in the proper direction
There is a small competition amongst the astronauts to see who can use the least amount of fuel.
Although I far exceeded the recommended amount of fuel, I managed to successfully dock Orion to the ISS!
The sound effects that were part of the simulation were recorded from a space shuttle docking to the ISS!
Driving the Mars Rover
This was supposed to be one of the easier simulators, because all you do is use a joystick to roam around Mars, and I was one of the last to try, but somehow it took me awhile to figure it out. You can listen to the instructor giving me directions on how to operate the rover in the video below.
The images in the photos and videos you will see below are maps of Mars created from satellite and rover data
During our last trek around Mars we decided to try and tip the Mars Rover over by driving it off the edge of a steep hill. As you will hear in the video, the rover was much stabler than we expected and we were not successful.
The sound effects were one of the coolest parts. They are actual sound recordings sent back to Earth from Mars! If you watch the videos below you will actually hear sounds from Mars!!!
Correction: After trying to look up more videos and recordings of sounds from Mars, I realized that I may have misinterpreted this when we were being told about the simulator. According to some of the articles I read, the current Mars rover robots may not have microphones on them. This is an addition being made to the next robotic rover that will be launched in 2018 or 2020. The sounds you hear in the video (engine noise, gravel crunching) may be interpretations of sounds scientists expect to hear when humans drive the Mars rover. I'll be doing more research into this to try and find the answer!
I took a picture of the brochure below if you want to know more information about the simulation facility.
Even though my simulation was nothing like the pressure that an astronaut experiences, it was eye opening to see the many variables that astronauts must anticipate and attempt to control in every scenario.
Neutral Buoyancy Lab (NBL)
The NBL is one of the largest pools in the world. It’s 40 ft deep and contains a full scale replica of the ISS. To give a perspective on size, if you skim off one inch of water from the top of the pool, you will have enough water to fully fill a backyard swimming pool.
Weights and flotation devices are placed on astronauts in their spacesuits to create the effect of floating in space.
Astronauts are in the pool for 6 hours for each training scenario. There are four scuba divers assigned to each astronaut during training sessions. The divers rotate out every two hours.
The purpose of the NBL is to simulate what it is like to work on the exterior of the ISS during a space walk.
Commerical trainings are also held in the facility, such as helicopter rescues and other emergency response trainingings
After spacesuits have surpassed their peak lifetime in space, they are sent back to Earth, cleaned, refurbished, and can be used for training in the NBL
We saw the suit room the spacesuits are cleaned and maintained in and we also saw and got to try on parts of a spacesuit that had been used both in space and in the NBL!
Amusement Park Physics
We ended the day by using our homemade accelerometers to calculate the g-force on the pirate ship ride and the equivalent of the powertower
There were palms trees, 80 degree temperatures, and blue skies! You can’t beat that!
Online Resources From the Day
Great short video interview with Katherine Johnson, the main character of Hidden Figures
Menti similar to Kahoot, but with some additional features
NASA's Eyes interactive views, models, and data from NASA satellites
Free Fall Ball Game Geometry, NASA, and basketball! And you get to play basketball in space!
Lesson Workshops (pictures below)
How to make an accelerometers
How to make density columns
Experimenting with how to make a wind up toy function in microgravity (videos below)
Will it float tinfoil boats
Fun Facts
Pennies made before 1982 weigh more!
Coffee doesn’t move the same way in space and won’t come out of a cup. Watch this video to see the coffee cup that was invented for space! (Mathematicians helped!)
One of the most interesting parts about this experience is hearing about how NASA is constantly working with a moving target, both literally (like when trying to dock to the ISS) and figuratively (when contractors change and the political administration changes)