The HabForum

What was the worst thing that happened on an EDM?

I wouldn't say there was a worst moment during our EDM(other than when they killed the entire crew in the orbiter). However, our team had one person on it who didn't get along with anyone and wouldn't cooperate when we decided on positions. So, we ended up switching positions half-way through the mission. After we took a break for lunch, everyone who was in MOCR went to the shuttle and everyone who was in the shuttle went to MOCR. It was a lot of fun b/c we got to experience both sides, but I think there is something about keeping the same position the entire mission that makes it special. Also, our training took longer than it was supposed to b/c we were switching and all of our other missions had been in Atlantis(I think) due to an educators camp. Anyway, the whole point to that long explanation was that our mission got cut short b/c it was the last day of camp & we had to be at graduation.

Our EDM was cut short b/c it was really late at night. We were the second in the new Enterprise at we were running late b/c of the renovations and the first group being late. Also, our computers kept randomly turning off. We were exausted.

Well the worse part for me was also dealing with the enterprise computers. This was several years befpore the renovations started. We had about 90 minutes or so left in the edm and all the computers locked up on us. Our counselors couldnt manage to get them working again. So we just hung around inside the orbiter for most of the time waiting to hear if wed beable to continue. It was pretty vool though becvause we got to explore the orbiter and see stuff we might not have seen with our assigned positions. But in the end they couldnt get the computer unlocked so since this was the days before thenew software when they use to run a video fo landing they let the commander and i go through the landing checklist and ran the landing video at the apropriate time so we did get to finish our mission atleast.

One of our team was out on the end of the RMS and somehow got it locked up way above the training room floor. He was stuck for about an hour up there! Funny, since we called him "Inspector Gadget" because he always carried all these fancy hi-tech gadgets and was always having trouble with them!

--John

We lost audio comunication (and fax) with MOCR and never did get it back. We tried to correct it by holding a message to the camera but we never got a response. The shuttle crew was supose to pass it on but never gave us our message from MOCR.

Well we had some communications problems as well while i was on the ISS during the EDM But our team caused them. We had to evacuate the lab module because of a solar flare and noone bothered to grab a headset thinking someone else did. So we had no communicatons with MOCR to get the all clear which later led to more problems when we returned to the lab but thats another story.

DON'T forget the headset, AND your trusty penlight!!! I was the only one to remember the first time, but I've got 'em trained now!

A stopwatch doesn't hurt either!

--John

Ok the headset uses are obvious. And i can see uses for the penlight but what do you need a stop watch for?

No doubt you've seen those little white calculator-looking things used in the Shuttle cockpit. They're actually 3-channel timers. The real astronauts are constantly timing things. At camp, I would set my watch stopwatch to keep track of how long we had 'til the meteor shower, how long to stay in the shelter, etc. It came in handy a few times.

In my flightsuit pen pockets I keep a stainless steel penlight and a stainless steel pen/laser. I can use the laser to point out switches if needed.

--John

Well i'd always wondered what those white calculator looking things ive seen in shuttle films were. And you know the slim buttoned pocket on the right pants leg of the flight suit was actually sdesigned to hold a small flashlight although a pin light might be a little too small.

I killed my EVA. He was going senile, but we had too many other problems with the shuttle and station to actually treat him, so I kept giving him valuim, which got him out of my hair for a few minutes at a time. Eventually, he couldn't tak e it anymor. I had to run around like a rabid space monkey ( ) to bring him back.

Well our crew got killed twice during the EDm the first time when one crewmember got home sick and decided to go home from the space station. That time we had to do whatever impressions our counselor told us to do if i remember right i had to do darth vader. The second time was when someone didnt use the shuttles airlock correctly and depressed the middeck. I was on the flight deck and though in reality we would have all been killed noone told me to do anything and i dont remember what they did to come back to life.

The aftermath of a meteor shower on the Station (I'm the one wearing the headset, as usual):

The picture isnt showing up for some reason.

Someone needs to find Drea and get a photo of our great landing. The commander and pilot argued over the landing for hours. After they did land, their main gear touched down, and then their SSMEs touched down. The parachute deployed and at wheel stop, their nose was in the air and the engines were on the ground.

That i'd like to see. Certainly the most intresting landing i've ever heard of.