The HabForum

If you aren't going, or if you don't care, feel free to ask me anything about the 8-day program here. I will only go by request, though... no direct statements without being asked. If you do not want to be spoiled, do not read this thread, of course.

Tell us about the EDM, how did that work?

We never had hydroponics while I was at Space Camp, so I do not know much about what they do during normal sessions. (Anyone care to clue me in on that?) However, what is it that they do during the special session instead of the hydroponics lab?

If you only had 8 people in your special session, how could the EDM work? There wouldn't be enough people to fill all the positions in the shuttle, the station, and MOCR!

How did the STS-54 mission information tie in with your mission and its training? I didn't really understand how that worked.

Did anyone in your group get to do the second SCUBA session for the EDM?

Lots of questions I know, and I'm sure I will have heaps more as you write more!

Benji: I hate to say it, but this question is WAY too general, and I'm not good at general stuff...

SpaceCanada: hydroponics is handled in a module with scheduled time there while on the station. As for 8 people, that was on MY team. There were two, and since neither was totally full, we trained separately for one group mission, and we got to mingle a lot. It was a cool way to do things, and it worked well. As for STS-54, I'm not sure. They just mentioned that that was what they used as a model for the mission. And, unfortunately, there was no SCUBA EVA... they haven't gotten that one together yet.

Thank you for explaining the hydroponics, we never had that 'back in the day' although I do remember suggesting something like it to the counsellors. Anyway, what did you get to do instead of the hydroponics lab?

Hydroponics is handled in a module with scheduled time there while on the station.

My group was the first group to ever use it. There was actually a guy fixing the com link while we were in it.

monkeynautt wrote:No. It is 8 pilots and 8 MS's. Don't say anything about how the short missions work but everyone would get a chance at everything.

So... how do the short missions work with 8 pilots in the special session? Are there four short missions and one EDM? What do the extra 2 pilots do during each mission if the pilot positions are full in the station, orbiter, and MOCR?

I can see the need for more pilots because for the 24-hour EDM you would rotate in such a way that one group is sleeping, but what about the short missions?

Oh, and for the EDM, how did the scheduling go? Would there be four groups rotating between sleep, MOCR, orbiter, and station? What did they do for meals and sleeping? Were there 'breaks' like the 'normal' EDM in the middle for food and rotation?

Just curious... because if I cannot experience it first-hand, I might as well squeeze every drop of information from those who do get to go!

I don't know how it'd work with a full team... our team had only 2 pilots, the other team had 3, I think. Correct me if I'm wrong, Laura. And to answer your questions:

1) I don't know about the pilots. We were a little short on people and positions and whatnot... an MS was Flight Director, for instance.

Whoah... that's weird... I just sort of stopped talking... odd. But here I go with the rest of the answers (I double-posted so I could still see the text of the message I'm replying to):

2) Umm... there was no sleep rotation. Everyone slept at the same time. So I still don't have a clue.
3) Short missions... well, there were only 8 of us, so no one did station on the first 3 missions, and each MS did MOCR twice and orbiter once, and the pilots did orbiter all three times. For the fourth mission, we were all on station. I dunno how it'd work full-time.
4) Scheduling... well, there was a mission timeline that only MOCR had, and that was pretty cool. There were not four groups rotating... everyone slept at the same time. In MOCR (where I was not, thankfully), they initially had one person up at a time, but then they didn't after a while... and the people were nice enough not to give us any anomalies during sleep... heck, as station commander, I didn't even wear headphones... but whatever. Meals and sleep were on-location (sleeping in station is lots of fun!), and the only way you left your place was for a PVA (figure that one out... say it out loud). Breaks were also on-location. Every effort for realism was made.

Laura... are you sure your crew was the first EVER?

That's what we were told. Our week was a first for many things but I won't say (and Nathaniel better not) to keep stuff as a surprise. I will post more when the July group leaves and if you are not going in July just PM me and I'll tell you some things. We are supposed to keep some details about the mission secret for those that are going next.

Unless I'm not mistaken, Benji's going to the 8-day during Christmas camp. So don't tell him anything.

In fact, it would probably be best not to say anything about it until they're all done for the year...

What Vincent says, goes. Therefore, no more requests will be taken by me unless you send me a private message and swear an oath of secrecy and that you aren't going to any of them.

okay, will do... but be forewarned, you may get a lot of PMs in the near future

We'll be ready. I will eventually post our mission but not until later. It's best if it's a surprise.

Ha okay Benji is going Christmas Camp...me too! yay! That and I will be there for the special session in July...i guess I will just have to keep my lips sealed after July...

WHAT? YOU GET TO GO TO TWO!!!!????





Geez... that's so not-fair.

Well I didnt have to pay for one, so I used my money to pay for the Christmas Camp long one...I just hope it was worth it to sign up for two.

Wait... why didn't you have to pay for one?