Author
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Topic: STS-19: Georgia elementary school shuttle sim
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Joel Katzowitz Member Posts: 808 From: Marietta GA USA Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 05-11-2017 09:51 AM
The shuttle program is alive and kicking in Smyrna, Georgia. STS-19 launched on May 8, 2017 at Russell Elementary School. This was my fourth year photographing the mission and the 19th of it's existence. The orbiter, Intrepid, which is housed in a trailer, contains a working flight deck that is amazing, as well as living quarters in the mid deck. The mission lasts for about 28 hours and the crew sleeps in the mid deck bunks at night. One of the most exciting events is the "walk out" as the crew walks through the entire elementary school to the delight of the younger kids who cheer, wave flags, and exchange high fives with them. It's a very exciting day for all, and the culmination of eight months of "training" for the crew. This year they had a major incident during the landing phase (think "Russell, we've had a problem"). Here's what happened as posted on their Facebook page by Chris Laster, the teacher who developed and runs the program: I just received an email from a reporter who asked a simple question: "Was your landing successful?"Here is my response (It is long.): Our landing was successful. It was also the wildest ride I've ever been on in all of our simulations. We were at the point in the mission in which the Intrepid had already deorbited and reentered the Earth's atmosphere — past the point of no return. It was on its glide toward a landing and only about 3 minutes from the final approach phase and just 6 minutes from wheels on the ground. Things were going smoothly when... BAM!!! ...the power gets knocked out in Mission Control for about 2 seconds, long enough to shut down everything — the computers at the flight control consoles, our sound system, the live YouTube feed computer... EVERYTHING! The students immediately swung into recovery mode, restarting their computers and getting ready to read their backup files to restore their data and continue. Then the astronaut crew comes on the air-ground comm loop. "Russell, we've had a power surge or something and briefly lost power. All of our equipment shut down." It was not limited to just Mission Control! The team went into action to restart the equipment on the Intrepid simulator. Within about 3 minutes, everything was fully operational and the Mission Control Team and Astronaut Crew worked together to bring the Intrepid home safely with a perfect landing. We are used to small glitches like a computer freezing up and having to be restarted or a loose connection somewhere interfering with radio communication. We had never had anything on this scale, not even close, and the timing could not have been worse. Parents were gasping and groaning, but the kids stayed perfectly calm. They chose to tackle the problem. This is such a fantastic program and it has inspired several former student participants to pursue careers in the aerospace engineering field. It also inspires everyone who is involved in the program.
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Joel Katzowitz Member Posts: 808 From: Marietta GA USA Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 05-11-2017 09:53 AM
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Joel Katzowitz Member Posts: 808 From: Marietta GA USA Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 05-11-2017 09:53 AM
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GACspaceguy Member Posts: 2474 From: Guyton, GA Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 05-11-2017 05:07 PM
That is so very cool!!!! |
albatron Member Posts: 2732 From: Stuart, Florida Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 05-11-2017 05:12 PM
Wow wow wow! That is SO seriously cool! |
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42981 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 05-11-2017 05:34 PM
The "Tough and Competent" cards at the flight controllers' keyboards are particular poignant, this being the 50th anniversary of Apollo 1. Joel, were those new for this year? |
Joel Katzowitz Member Posts: 808 From: Marietta GA USA Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 05-11-2017 06:14 PM
Chris surprises his students with a new "inspirational message" every year. He's very cognizant of space history as you can see in the photo of the history table. Several years ago he used the Superman logo with the words "Believe it".
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p51 Member Posts: 1642 From: Olympia, WA Registered: Sep 2011
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posted 05-12-2017 06:55 PM
I can imagine the competition for being the crew is intense. That is utterly amazing, I'd have given anything to have gone to a school that did something like this. Looking back, my school system was so broke and substandard, it's amazing I even know how to read and write today... |
Joel Katzowitz Member Posts: 808 From: Marietta GA USA Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 05-13-2017 07:38 AM
The program has certainly had it's financial challenges. A while ago they discovered the roof on the trailer had been leaking which also damaged the walls. The contractor bids to fix the damage went as high as $15,000. Russell is a Title 1 school which means the students have a high poverty rate. They tried various ways to help pay for the repairs including having a bake sale. After the contractor learned about the program they, along with their sub-contractors, decided to donate the repair. |
Gilbert Member Posts: 1328 From: Carrollton, GA USA Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 05-18-2017 03:47 PM
This is simply awesome! |
Joel Katzowitz Member Posts: 808 From: Marietta GA USA Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 05-21-2017 06:33 PM
Meet me there next year Gilbert, it's so much more exciting in person! |