A few questions about ASA

[Merohar]

Hi! I'm going to advanced space academy for the first time next week, and I have a few questions about what I should bring. I see people here (jokingly?) suggest that we should bring duct tape to space camp, so should I bring duct tape? Will I be allowed to use my phone to take pictures? Are there outlets in the dorms/hab rooms that I'll be able to use to charge it? I'm doing the pilot track, so will I swim at all? Anything else I should know/bring?

[Phoenix PK]

Duct tape really does come in handy sometimes. You don't need to bring a lot, though. Pictures are certainly encouraged, and there are a couple of outlets in each Hab room for re-charging. I've been in pilot tracks for ASAs and have done the SCUBA training, so it's a possibility. The health form requirement will be a giveaway that you might do SCUBA.

Bring towels for showering and for SCUBA, they don't provide them. Also, good gloves, like Mechanix brand, for Area 51 ropes activities. Passing around the worn and sweaty gloves that are provided is icky. A cheap poncho is good for the occasional rainy day.

Pack your patience, a good attitude, and a sincere desire for teamwork and learning. Have a great time!

[Hotdog]

Bring a backpack to carry all these essential goodies around with ya. Don't worry too much about your phone, you will be way too busy to use it other than for picture taking and maybe a call home at the end of the day. Take lots of pictures, as well as notes. You will be glad you did later! And stay in touch with all of the new friends you make on your team. Graduation is really just the beginning of your adventure!

[Phoenix PK]

P.S. Bring a small flashlight for when they kill the power. A Maglite is perfect. Plus, a short roll of Velcro
tape, both sides, with the rough side with adhesive. Place the rough side with adhesive on items you
don't want to float away. The Crew Trainers have a habit of bonking you on the head with things that
aren't Velcroed down. The backpack suggestion is great, and you may be given a Camp satchel to
use and keep. Be prepared to have to carry stuff.

Bring a bathing suit in case of SCUBA. No bikinis, if you're a woman, full body suit only. With trunks.
Plan to dress modestly at all times. Just sayin'.

And keep in mind, NASA is a government-run enterprise. Don't expect any luxury surroundings. Camp
is not a plushy atmosphere. It's very realistic in that respect.

[majtom7]

And keep in mind, NASA is a government-run enterprise. Don't expect any luxury surroundings. Camp
is not a plushy atmosphere. It's very realistic in that respect.

USSRC is run by the Alabama State Science Exhibition Commission. I believe that NASA surroundings might be considered "plush" compared to camp.

[p51]

I see people here (jokingly?) suggest that we should bring duct tape to space camp, so should I bring duct tape?

Only having gone through the adult programs, I've never seen duct tape being used to wacky effect (we used to try to tape each other to stuff when I was in the Army, usually people lost teeth or got broken bones in the process). I do bring it as the sheets for the beds never seem to fit right, so taping them in place works okay. Other than that, I have have had zero need for the stuff at camp.

[SpaceCanada]

I have have had zero need for the stuff at camp.

On the contrary, I've used duct tape and wish I had duct tape (when I didn't have any) at least once every time I've been to camp. As a youth camper, it was very well used, more than adult camp. It comes in very useful during any medical anomalies on your long missions: splinting a broken bone, taping someone to the wall, taping an object to the wall, that sort of thing. I highly recommend bringing a small roll with you or, at the very least, tape a few strips onto your flight suit for use during your missions.

[Phoenix PK]

Yes, it is useful for the longer sims. Typically, it's used to patch hull cracks (put there by the Crew Trainers) that you'll look for when losing cabin pressure. I've even repaired a broken duct on the ISS with it! Like SpaceCanada said, good for splinting and other medical anomalies. One thing you can't do (anymore) is restrain a crew member with duct tape (real life safety issue). Placing a few strips inside your flight suit is a good idea, just don't forget it's there! I know more than one person who ruined a flight suit by forgetting it after Camp was over.

[Merohar]

Thanks for the help. I'll definitely bring duct tape!

[SpaceCanada]

One thing you can't do (anymore) is restrain a crew member with duct tape (real life safety issue).

Right, that was way back when... But we have duct taped a fellow crew member to a cafeteria tray instead. It made a suitable back splint for the injured person. (Never use a fire extinguisher in space without properly bracing yourself.)

[Hotdog]

What? No more restraining crew members with duct tape? This was necessary 20 years ago (GOSH I can't believe it's been 20 years) when I was Commander of Enterprise and my Pilot flipped out and had to be duct taped to the mid-deck. If I had not done this, he would have flipped switches and went crazy about the orbiter, and we probably would have had to deorbit early before completing our mission. So, are missions watered down these days? Wouldn't surprise me.

[Phoenix PK]

No, the medical anomalies aren't watered down these days, you can still have a crew mate go psycho. You just have to jab him with some tranquilizer, or you can just tell the Crew Trainer "I've duct taped him down on the seat." They just don't want someone truly immobilized in case of a fire or a real medical emergency.

[p51]

No, the medical anomalies aren't watered down these days, you can still have a crew mate go psycho. You just have to jab him with some tranquilizer, or you can just tell the Crew Trainer "I've duct taped him down on the seat." They just don't want someone truly immobilized in case of a fire or a real medical emergency.

Sounds a lot like what we did in the Army. When searching EPWs (enemy POWs), we'd grab their weapon and declare out loud, "throwing the weapon into the bushes," or maybe, "Disassembling the weapon and taking the bolt with me," so as that the bad guy couldn't jump up with his issued weapon in real life lying next to them and use it on us. We'd also say stuff like, "flex-tying the prisoner and putting a gag in place" so they couldn't yell. This was also a safety concern. But the bad guy would then have to walk with their feet or hands together and couldn't talk.
I'm all for training for reality, but there's really no reason to duct tape someone in place.

[majtom7]

I'm all for training for reality, but there's really no reason to duct tape someone in place.

That would be one way to keep PK in the Hab at night.

[Phoenix PK]

It'll take a lot more than duct tape and some thorazine, PC. I have the hots for that one waitress over there. Besides, an ATO is an abort mode, it's not about staying put!

[Hotdog]

Is it the blonde named Stefanie? She's a cutie!

[Phoenix PK]

Ahem, I guess we've really veered off topic here... To the OP, plan to wear black sneakers, astronauts
always wear black shoes.

PC, do you think she'll remember me? Oops, nevermind.

[p51]

To the OP, plan to wear black sneakers, astronauts always wear black shoes.

Former Naval aviators usually wear brown shoes. It wouldn't be the Navy unless they were different from every other branch of the military, right?
But as for footwear I've seen astronauts wear everything from cordovan boots to high top sneakers with their flight suits...

[majtom7]

PC, do you think she'll remember me? Oops, nevermind.

Did you give her the "My passion is exploring heavenly bodies" line?