Whitefield fifth-graders navigated the depths of space, or at least pretended to do so, during the annual Space Camp field trip held recently at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. While at the camp, Whitefield students divided into teams, with each team participating in a one-hour shuttle launch simulation. Students acted as shuttle commanders, pilots, mission specialists, payload specialists, station commanders, and scientists. Teams monitored the progress and safety of their mission, launched and landed the spacecraft, and conducted scientific experiments in the space station while learning basic scientific principles. Mission teams were then evaluated on the completion of their mission.
During Space Camp, students learned about the past, present, and future of space exploration by touring the facility’s museum. On display were the capsules that early astronauts used during their missions as well as the Saturn V which NASA built to send people to the moon. Students also experienced the Multi Axis Trainer, which is a simulator that helps astronauts train for driving in space while spinning out of control. A favorite part of the field trip was riding the simulator called the Space Shot, which imitated 4Gs of liftoff force.
During Space Camp, students learned about the past, present, and future of space exploration by touring the facility’s museum. On display were the capsules that early astronauts used during their missions as well as the Saturn V which NASA built to send people to the moon. Students also experienced the Multi Axis Trainer, which is a simulator that helps astronauts train for driving in space while spinning out of control. A favorite part of the field trip was riding the simulator called the Space Shot, which imitated 4Gs of liftoff force.