The HabForum

Well I have seen a short description on the website and some pictures, but as of now I am unsure of how someone is a counselor for the program and what training they have to go through. I think Nat and Tony are awesome though and perfect for the job.

Ok, so I meant once they get settled in.

I am confused. What are you talking about?

We were talking about hoping to get some descriptions of how space camp turkey and space camp Alabama differ in their programs.

Well I don't think they speak fluent Turkish, but I could be wrong. I wonder if Space Camp Turkey is in English.

Well their website is done in both languages. And overseas its fairly common for people to learn boith the language of their country and English these days.

That is true. In every other country I have been in, all of the signs have been in both English and their native language. We have it pretty easy in that nowadays we don't really have to learn another language to get around in the country.

That's very true. I would imagine it would be in english since they get people from a lot of different countries.

Well I am suprised they get as many kids as they do wanting to learn about our program. Well suprised isn't quite the right word. I mean, I think it is pretty cool.

Yeah I know. I feel the same way.

Well at first I didn't think so many kids wanted to go to a place like Space Camp Turkey to learn about our space program. Perhaps their program that is more geared towards astronomy and stuff too.

Well i mean wqe are one of only 2 countries that send people into space and have a space program of their own We are also still to this day the most open about it. Alot of people in other countries are probably intrested in that fact and thus would go to a place like space camp Turkey to learn about our program.

That's true, Jason. Well the Russians more recently have gotten more open about their space program. I read somewhere about their cosmonaut school, and how attendance is going up. The thing is that most kids go there just to have fun (like Space Camp) rather than learn what it takes to be a cosmonaut. The chinese aren't very open about theirs I don't think as they just randomly told everyone they want to go to the moon.

We need to return to the moon.

I agree. You should read the epilogue Homer Hickam's book Back to the Moon. Even if you don't like the book, what he says here makes sense. Also, Buzz Aldrin has some stuff to say. Here is a quote from his book The Return, which he wrote with John Barnes:

I started to be bothered by a peculiar thought: we didn't really have a space program anymore.
Of course we had a presence in space, and we flew to Low Earth Orbit fairly often- I had been there three times myself. But no American- in fact, no human being- had gone farther than LEO since December 1972. We went to space for lots of things: commerce, navigation, communication, knowledge, military advantage. But a "program" would imply we were going somewhere, or had things to accomplish that we hadn't done yet, and I just felt that "going somewhere" was exactly what we weren't doing.

I think I have read that before, Benji. But yes, we definately aren't going much of anywhere with our "program". I do like the new NASA Mission Statement though because it implies we will be going places. It is one of my AIM away messages:

To understand and protect out home planet
To explore the universe and search for life
To inspire the next generation of explorers

...as only NASA can.

Well the chinese ultimate goal seems to eventually be the moon but for the moment they are concentrating on low earth orbit as well. Their first manned mission is supose to fly sometime late this year. I have also read that quote from Aldrin before and it's so true.

Well obviously they have to get into a low earth orbit before they can even think about going to the moon. Baby steps ya know. I read somewhere on CNN that they were going to try to go to the moon in the next ten years.

I've read Back to the Moon, but I forget what the epilogue says.

Well when there program started they were saying within 10 years but i havent heard the moon mentioned in their plans in a while so who knows what they are planning. Their spacecraft is based on a Russian design.