Going to camp - have some questions

Going to camp soon? Have questions about camp? Post them here for those that have gone to answer.

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dan
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Going to camp - have some questions

Post by dan »

So last night I was surprised with a trip to Adult Space Camp (which I never knew existed) for my 30th birthday. I grew up near KSC and wanted to go as a kid but never had the chance. I'm looking forward to going but don't really know what I'm in for. Specifically I'm doing the 6 day pilot (with scuba) track. As a long time diver I'm really looking forward to the scuba parts.

So - what all do the adults do? What kind of "pilot training" will I be going through? Up to date simulators? How is the lodging? Will I get to do the SERE training? That sounds pretty cool.

And of course - is there Internet access during the camp? With my job I (unfortunately) need to be able to check in on a few things during my stay. Flexible though so it doesn't have to be at a specific time.

I'm sure I'll have some more questions leading up. I'm not going until the end of August. Thanks.

(Also, I had heard there are a lot of Georgia Tech grads who frequent here - CS 02, MSInfoSec 08 here)

Dan
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Post by Boomerang »

Well lets see if i can answer a few of these questions. Since you're doing the scuba option i don't beliee you will be flying the aircraft sims at aviation challenge so your main piloting will consist of flying the shuttle. when i say flying thats a bit of a misnomer. You will learn to land the shuttle that does involve flying it. The rest of the mission is mainly spent making sure check list are done entering commands into the onboard computer, and handling anomalies that pop up from time to time. You also get lectures in space piloting rendevous etc. Keep in mind flying in space is not the same as in the air you;ll learn the diffrences and the hows and why's. You'll also lean pace history, shuttle systems, as i recall their are lectures on Russian space history, and flight physiology as well. Keep in mind this is coming from my eperiience as a pilot trainee their in 1998 and the bits and pieces i picked up working their i didnt work this program but knew people who did. You will have 3 hour long shuttle missions and a 6 our mission. The one hour missions you spend one in the orbiter, one in the station and one in mission control then the team will get toether and decide wo is where for the longer mission. You will ofcourse also do scuba, and other astronaut training equipment.

As for SERE training i have never seen that done by advanced academy i have seen it done by Aviation Challenge but only for one summer. I will leave i at that and not go into what SERE was like their due to i don't know' AC's plans for this summer and if it is part of that program i'd rater the experience be a suprise.

Lodging is provided for you in Hab 1 on sight. It's typiclaly 6 people to a room and will be adults. As for internet access. If you bring a lap top you might beable to connect to the wireless router in Hab 1. I say maybe because its mainly for counselors and i have eard from others it doesnt function in all parts of the building. Make sure you bring a lock for your locker especialy if your brng the lap top. The camp will not be responsible if something happens to it. If you absolutely have to have internet access the Marriott otel next door has it for its guest. It's witin easy walking distance of the camp and some adults elect to stay their but it is at extra cost and is not included in the tuition. Food is another story atcamp. All i can say its cafeteria food and its included in tuition its not great but their is usualy something edible at each meal. At lunch time the public cafeteria is open around the corner where the food is slightly better but again its at extra cost.

Hope this helps opefuly some others can give more info. Just ask if you have other questions.
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pilotgirl21
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Post by pilotgirl21 »

I never did the adult 6 day program, but I did do the adult weekend program and the Advanced Space Academy 6 day program when I was 16 and 17. I don't know how much has changed since I did the 6 day program (back in 1997 and 1998), but we had lectures and missions with training, along with a 6-hour extended mission.

I did the pilot track in 97, and we had classes about the flight deck, space piloting, and atmospheric science.

I also did the scuba both years and it was a fun experience. I had never scuba dived before, and from what I remember, we "fixed" a couple of things in the tank. They gave basic scuba training, but if you are already a diver, you will fly through it.

As Jason said, the hab is where you will stay. It tends to get pretty cold at night, so you may want to bring an extra blanket or grab an extra one from the housekeeping area. Also, as Jason said, make sure you have a good lock for the locker, since campers and counselors are in and out of the hab all day and there are no locks on the doors. Don't leave anything out that you don't want to disappear. When I went for the adult camp, there was only one other person in my room with me. Internet and cell phone connections come and go within the hab. I was on my phone and lost connection depending on where I was standing in my room. Outside would probably be your best bet for internet and cell phones.

As adults, you get more freedom than kids. You can choose whether or not to go to lectures, but it's almost a requirement that you attend mission training and the missions. Your team won't like you very much if you cut out on them for the missions! Also, my teammates and I went out after the days were over during the adult camp. There was a bar in the hotel next door, and there are things to do in town if enough people have transportation. It's a great time to bond and learn more about your teammates.

Well anything else you need to know, just feel free to ask. I know that you'll have a great time, especially since you've wanted to go to camp for years!
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Post by gt0163c »

I did Adult ASA in September of 2007. I was in the Mission Specialist track. For everything but the training and missions, MS and Pilot track was identical.

My week, the pilots scubaed one night while the MSs went to Aviation Challenge to fly the simulators and ride the centerfuge. The next night we swapped. There were four one hour missions (each person had two slots in mission control) and one six hour mission.

There was no SERE training and we didn't get to do anything at AC but fly the sims and ride the centerfuge if you so desired (I don't pull G's well so I elected not to).

My roommate (only two of us in the room, which was nice), were both able to connect to the wireless internet in the Hab with no problem. Although some sites seemed to be blocked (Facebook and Myspace among them). Getting to blogs, personal email and just about every other site was not a problem. The Hab was chilly and got very cold one night. I asked for an extra blanket at check-in and that helped some. You might want to bring two locks, so that you can lock two lockers. By the end of the week, I expanded into a second locker and kept my dirty clothes in my suitcase under my bed (there's one bed that has an "under" as it used to be a table/bench, at least in my room).

The food isn't great, but with the adult program there are more choices (generally an unfried version of what the kids are eating). You have the option of choosing either. The staff can be convinced to dig out salsa for your eggs in the morning, but it takes some doing and it's not very good salsa. Next time I will bring my own bottle of "green sauce" along for my eggs (it's a Texas thing).

I'm also a Tech grad BAE '98. Great to see another Techie around these parts.
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Post by SpaceCanada »

I don't have much to add, it seems like the others covered most things already.

There IS a computer lab in Hab 2 that adults usually have access to in the off-hours. At least, we had access there in 2005 and my fellow team mates were in there again in 2006 and 2007. It has internet but some sites like Facebook and MySpace are locked out. No big deal if all you are doing is work stuff. I don't know about the Wi-Fi service since I didn't use it but I also heard you can get Wi-Fi in the mess hall now too.

Adults also have more freedom to walk around the campus after hours. We sat in the mess hall, wandered the museum, played a bit more in the Enterprise mock-up (this required extra permission), went for a swim over at the Marriott (this required we went with someone who was actually a guest of said hotel), and generally had free-roam to do whatever we wanted. Just make sure you wear your team badge at all times so they know you are an adult and allowed to be there.

You won't do much at Aviation Challenge. It changes from week to week, but if you go over there you may get to fly the simulators (hopefully the Mach III sims, but more likely the Mach II ones) and spin yourself silly in the centrifuge. You'll have to sign up for the adult Aviation Challenge camp to do anything more than that.

The Habitat (dorms) can get cold, especially in autumn when the days are hot and the nights are cool outside. The Hab only has heat or AC at any given time, never both, so it's either too hot or too cold - typically the latter. Bring some pyjamas and get an extra blanket at sign-in.

I was there back in 2004, so some things have changed since but not too much. If you have any other questions post them here and we'll try to help you out.
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gt0163c
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Post by gt0163c »

One other thing, when I was there, I got up a little early and went for a run and did some calesthenics under Pathfinder most mornings. If you do decide to do that, make sure you take your badge with you, especially if you go outside of the gates, into the parking lot, down to AC, etc. You'll still get some odd looks but won't get hassled at all.

It was really neat to run through rocket park and around the plake at AC in the mornings when no one else was around. Under Pathfinder has become my second favorite place to do calethenics (the baskeball courts at YMCA of the Rockies outside of Estes Park, Co being my favorite).
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dan
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Post by dan »

Thanks for the responses. It definitely helps to know a bit beforehand - especially about the locks. Don't need anything to go missing. I'm sure I'll have some more questions as we get closer. Looking forward to going.
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Post by street »

The computer lab in Hab II doesn't have keyboards anymore. It's there strictly for camp activities, which don't require one. However, wireless access is available for everyone in Hab I, as long as you have your own laptop.
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dan
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Post by dan »

Well, heading there in a week. Anyone else here going on the adult 6 day session starting Aug 30th?
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Post by bnaivar »

Dan:

I don't know how your planning to go, but when I drive to Huntsville from Atlanta, I go west on I-20 to Anniston Al, then North on 431 to Huntsville.

Have a good trip.
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dan
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Post by dan »

Thanks. I live in Marietta so I think I'm going up 75 and then over. Looks to be pretty close in mileage either way.
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