ISC2009-report

International Space Camp 2009

International and American students were grouped into a few groups after ceremonious opening. I became a part of a team named after Wernher von Braun – German rocket scientist which emigrated to USA and helped NASA to reach the Moon.The main part of our program was composed of simulated space missions. Trainee could work in three different simulation areas – orbiter of Space Shuttle, space station and mission operations control room. We were understanding the work of astronauts and research workers in space and on the earth during missions. There were opportunities to try solving problems, unusual situations and crashes. In my opinion control panels and computers were a little bit simplified but in despite of it the atmosphere was great. My favorite simulation area was the orbiter of Space Shuttle especially EVAs (Extra Vehicular Activity). We put on space suits and tried to repair a satellite which was placed above payload bay in rear part of the spacecraft. On the other side we were not very free during missions in mission operations control room. Basically we were only reading scenarios and in case of problem we used prepared books to solve it. In the space station, first of all, we were doing experiments. I was doing an experiment with a small robotic hand which was very funny. There were lectures on different themes from aeronautics to liquid waste disposal systems on ISS too. Every lecture was usually variegated with funny demonstration. We even met rocket scientist Georgem von Tiesenhausen.

Ajka Štindlová (left) 

I spent one of the most amusing parts of Space Camp using trainers. We could try neutral buoyancy in a water tank, which was very similar to tanks, where real astronauts practise every part of their missions. It was the first time in my life I was SCUBA diving. I was very impressed by it. On the bottom plate of the water tank (ten meters under the water level) we were using our cooperation skills to build a pyramid by prepared components and we also recognized the difference between a mass and a weigh. There was an other interesting simulator where a person was rotating in all three axis with all time changing directions. We could also try an one sixth gravity, simulated ejection or an acceleration of 4 g.Stanislav FořtThey hardly insist team building. We were building our teams in area called Area 51. For example we were climbing sixteen meters high climbing wall or ten meters high wooden pillar (after it we jumped down from the top). We also tried escape from crashed helicopter cabin in a water or getting over various difficulties.I could very effectively improve my abilities of practical using of English language in the camp. It was only common language to communicate with other trainees. There were a great many of opportunities to meat people from all over the world. I learned lot of about them and their countries and in conjunction with them I found many aspects of their cultures. ISC was a great chance to meat people with similar interests.

Ajka Štindlová