Russian Space Trip Day #3

Day #3 Star City
Today we awoke bright and early and hopped on the bus to Star City. Located outside of Moscow, it is the place where, since the 1960s, the cosmonauts live and train. During the Soviet era, this was a secret facility with restricted access. Now, visitors are welcome. It is here that the cosmonauts live with their families and the town has many things you would expect in a community-a high school, shops, movie theater, post office, sports and recreation facility, and day care. At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center on the grounds of Star City, there is a centrifuge, planetarium, hydrolab, and simulators of the ISS and the Soyuz spacecraft where the cosmonauts and their astronaut counterparts train for upcoming missions.
For the five of us who are planning to fly on the zero gravity flight, our first appointment was with a doctor in the Star City medical complex. We were ushered upstairs and asked to wait in the hallway until it was our turn for an exam. Imagine my surprise when I turned and saw none other than Alexei Leonev standing three feet away! As the first person to perform a spacewalk, he is well known to all who follow the space program! He also participated in the Apollo-Soyuz historic mission that docked a Soviet and an American spacecraft. This event signaled the beginning of cooperation in space exploration between our two countries. Leonev no longer flies, and although he holds an important position at Star City, I just never dreamed I would see him. It was quite an honor to meet such a hero.
When it was my turn for the medical exam, I was ushered into an exam room and asked a series of questions about whether or not I get dizzy on fast rides, how I was feeling at the time, and whether I had ever done any parachute jumps before. The doctor and nurse were quite welcoming and my exam was quick. When we finished, we hurried to catch up with the rest of our group at the centrifuge. This is an enormous machine, and the only centrifuge in the world that boasts four degrees of motion. It can move up and down, side to side, forward and back, and tip right to left, providing unique training opportunities. As it spins around this room, at several hundred kilometers an hour, it creates pressure on the bodies of the cosmonauts inside. Cosmonauts train on this centrifuge to learn to handle G forces in a variety of directions which helps them in launch and descent. I am standing in the center of the picture to provide some perspective as to the size of this machine.
The next place we visited was the mock up of the Soyuz (pronounced sah-yoos) spacecraft. It is the craft that will carry the Expedition 18 crew to the ISS on October 12, 2008. At the time of our visit, there were two Japanese astronauts training in the Soyuz simulator and we were allowed to climb the steps to peek inside. In the adjoining room were the technicians acting as Mission Control, throwing all sorts of simulated problems at the two men. As we looked inside the spacecraft, we could see the men consulting their training manuals and speaking to Mission Control through their headsets. Anyone hoping to fly in space spends hundreds of hours working in the simulators, which are built as exact replicas of the actual spacecraft the cosmonaut or astronaut will fly.
In the next building, our group got to see a mockup of the former Russian space station, MIR which flew from 1986 to 2001. It was an engineering marvel that stayed functional long past its life expectancy. In fact, American astronauts joined cosmonauts and spent many months on MIR, learning invaluable information about long-duration life in space. During its years in space, MIR survived some spectacular events including a life-threatening fire and a collision with a Progress supply ship. Guiding us through the MIR simulator was current cosmonaut Sergei Zalyotin. He took us aboard and identified the objects on display. There was a table where the cosmonauts sat to eat, a treadmill for exercise, a lower body pressure suit that they don two weeks before return to Earth to begin to prepare their bodies for gravity, and the most important item on board, the toilet. Zalyotin also showed us one of the infamous oxygen cannisters that started the fire aboard MIR. Sergei Zalyotin flew on MIR for three months and for two weeks on the International Space Station. He remains active and is scheduled for his third flight in two years. Our tour group was fortunate to spend so much time
with a Russian cosmonaut. We certainly got an inside look at the space program from an expert.

Russian Space Trip Day #2

Today we visited the home of the brilliant mastermind behind the Russian space program, Sergei Korolov. In the late 1950s and 1960s, Korolov designed the rockets that catapulted the Soviets into first place in the exploration of space, putting them ahead of the United States. After the successful launch of Sputnik, the first artificial satellite, the Soviet government rewarded Korolov with a beautiful home outside the capital city of Moscow. In the basement of this home was an extensive collection of photos, letters, and artifacts from Korolov's work. One of the items was a photo of him with Yuri Gagarin just before Gagarin's launch as the first human being in space. Also in the collection was a photo of Korolov with Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space. Although he was known to his colleagues in the space program, his name was a secret to Soviet citizens. Even in the United States we just knew him as the "Chief Designer." His home was surrounded by a high fence and was heavily guarded because the Soviets believed him to be a national treasure. His intellect was highly regarded and they wanted to ensure his safety. Inside his home "panic buttons" were installed so that he could call for help at any time.
Korolov was a brilliant man who dreamed of many achievements, and worked tirelessly to make his dreams come true. On display near his collection of photos was a handwritten list of Korolov's master plan. The first two columns list Soviet achievements such as the first artificial satellite, first animal in space, first human, first woman, first two man spacecraft, first photo of the dark side of the Moon, first spacewalk, first three man spacecraft, and first space station. The next columns list his plans for the future-landing men on the Moon, a lunar base from which to launch a mission to Mars, and a manned mission to Mars. These are goals that NASA is still working to achieve. Unfortunately, Korolov was in ill health and died in 1966 before he could see the rest of his dreams fulfilled. He was honored as a hero of the Russian people who finally learned his name. He is buried in the Kremlin walls.
For more information on Sputnik click here. To learn more about Yuri Gagarin, click here.
Valentina Tereshkova click here.

Russian Space Trip Day #1

Greetings from Moscow, Russia. Today was a beautiful day in the city. The sun was shining and the traffic was light! We stopped at Red Square to see the huge monument to Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space. Not only was he the first human in space, but he was the first to orbit the earth. The Russians honor him as a true hero. To see more Russian space firsts, click here.

At the beginning of the Space Program

Project Mercury

America’s First Man-in-Space Program

Begun in 1958 and completed in 1963, Project Mercury was America’s first man-in-space program. It consisted of seven astronauts and six manned flights. At the same time the United States was working towards putting a man in space, so was our competitor, the Soviet Union (also known as Russia). This competition came to be known as the “Space Race.” Although the Russians won the first leg of the “Space Race” when they successfully launched Yuri Gagarin on April 12, 1961, the United States went on to dominate the exploration of space for decades to come. We now work to explore space in partnership with Russia and fifteen other nations.

The Best of the Best

America’s first spacemen were chosen from hundreds of applicants who were either test pilots or military pilots, or both. After undergoing extensive, exhaustive physical and mental testing, these men were named the “Best of the Best” and were hired to work for the newly established government agency known as NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration). Given the title “astronaut” or star voyager, these courageous men trained for years for the opportunity to be carried aloft in a spacecraft.

(Original Mercury astronauts from left to right: Gordon Cooper, Scott Carpenter, John Glenn, Virgil “Gus” Grissom, Wally Schirra, Alan Shepard and Deke Slayton)

Goals of the Mercury Program

Orbit a Human

There were several main goals of the Mercury program. One goal was to orbit a manned spacecraft around the earth. To successfully accomplish this goal, it was necessary to design and build gigantic, powerful rockets capable of lifting a spacecraft out of Earth’s gravity. The Redstone rocket was developed by a team of German rocket scientists, led by Dr. Wernher von Braun. The Redstone rocket was used for suborbital flights including unmanned flights, flights carrying “astrochimps” Ham and Enos, and the manned flights of Alan Shepard and Gus Grissom. The more powerful Atlas rocket was used for the manned orbital flights of Glenn, Schirra, Carpenter, and Cooper. On May 5, 1961, Alan Shepard became the first American in space. His flight was a suborbital one lasting only fifteen minutes, but it launched him into the history books. Although the scientists and engineers in Mission Control were nervous about launching him that day, Shepard was cool and unafraid. When they were discussing yet another hold on the launch, Shepard spoke up, saying, “I’m cooler than you are. Why don’t you fix your little problem and light this candle!” They did. Shepard flew to an altitude of 116 miles and traveled at a top speed of 5134 miles per hour.
(in the picture) Astronaut Shepard, first American in space, on board a Navy ship shortly after his historic flight. Shepard is the only Mercury astronaut to go on to fly an Apollo mission and walk on the Moon.

Effects of Weightlessness on Humans

Investigating man’s ability to function in space was another primary goal of the Mercury program. Would a person’s heart continue to beat when in space? Without gravity could a person swallow? Would food and blood be carried throughout the body in the absence of gravity? During the orbital flights beginning with John Glenn’s three earth orbits, NASA studied the effects of weightlessness on the various functions of the body. It was proven that humans could successfully breathe, eat, and eliminate even in conditions of weightlessness. Glenn was the first astronaut to try eating a meal in space. He returned to Earth safe and sound, the first American to orbit the Earth.
(In the picture) February 1962: Astronaut John Glenn entering his spacecraft, Friendship 7 for the first American orbital flight.

Safe Recovery of Both Astronaut and Spacecraft

The third main goal of Project Mercury was to recover both man and the spacecraft safely. Safety of the astronaut was NASA’s priority. When it was discovered that astronaut Deke Slayton had an irregular heartbeat, he was grounded from flight. He became the head of the astronaut program instead. Years later, after Slayton received treatment for his heart condition, he was returned to flight status. He went on to fly the Apollo-Soyuz mission joining a Russian spacecraft with an American one while in orbit high above the earth.

(In the picture) Astronaut Deke Slayton entering a Russian spacecraft after a successful docking. The Apollo-Soyuz mission was the first joint space mission between Russia and the United States.

While all the Mercury astronauts were returned safely to Earth, one spacecraft was lost for years when it sank to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. In 1961, Liberty Bell 7, which carried astronaut Gus Grissom into orbit, sank after landing. The hatch blew open prematurely. With sea water pouring into the capsule, it began to sink before Navy helicopters could lift it aboard a Navy ship. Meanwhile, Grissom, who had safely exited the spacecraft, was also sinking as water poured into the open neck of his spacesuit. Once the helicopter pilot recognized Grissom was in danger of drowning, efforts to save the spacecraft were abandoned and Grissom was successfully lifted from the water and transported to the nearby Navy ship. The search for Grissom’s spacecraft, the Liberty Bell 7, was launched many years later. Resting on the ocean floor for thirty-eight years, it was finally located and brought to the surface. After touring the United States, it now rests in the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center.Unfortunately, Gus Grissom lost his life six years later along with Ed White and Roger Chaffee when their Apollo 1 spacecraft erupted in fire during a training exercise on the ground.

(In the picture) The Liberty Bell found after 38 years

One-Man Capsule

The Mercury spacecraft was a cone-shaped, one man capsule with a cylinder mounted on top. The blunt end of the capsule was covered with a fiberglass heat shield to protect it against the 3000 degree heat of reentry into the atmosphere. The capsule was nine and one-half feet long and six feet wide at the base. It weighed 2,980 pounds. Small thruster control jets in the nose of the capsule regulated its sideways, upward, and downward movements. Each astronaut named his capsule and added the numeral 7 to symbolize the teamwork of the original seven astronauts.

The Space Race Continued

In 1961, three weeks after Alan Shepard’s historic flight, President John F. Kennedy announced the goal of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to Earth. He called for this to be achieved before the end of the decade. Project Mercury ended in 1963, followed by Project Gemini, and then Project Apollo. During this time, the Russians continued to score “firsts” in space which included sending the first woman into space, performing the first spacewalk, and building and inhabiting the first space station to orbit Earth. However, on July 20, 1969, it was an American astronaut, Neil Armstrong, in Apollo 11, who first set foot upon the Moon. The final leg of the “Space Race” was over and America was the winner.

Take the Science Challenge

Take the Science Challenge

On October 12 2008, a new crew of space travelers will launch to the International Space Station (ISS). Commander Michael Finke, Flight Engineer Yury Lonchakov, and spaceflight participant Richard Garriott will launch from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. Garriott is the grown son of astronuat Owen Garriott and was raised with astronauts as next-door neighbors in Houston, Texas. He plans to conduct interactive science lessons while he is on board the ISS. He invites all interested students to go to his website, choose an easy-to-do science experiment, and watch what happens. Then, make a prediction about whether or not the results will be different when he performs the same experiment in space in microgravity. You can even post your predictions on Youtube. To participate, click here. Remember that you should always exercise caution when posting anything on the internet including on YouTube. Please seek the help of a parent or a teacher if you are going to do so, and DO NOT post anything on the Internet which contains personal information!

During the several days Garriott is aboard the ISS, he will perform the experiments and show the results. To watch his experiments in space, check out NASA TV by clicking here.

Do Dogs Really Fly?

Do Dogs Really Fly?

Yes, it is true that dogs fly, or at least they did in the 1950s. The USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) and the United States sent many creatures into space before they ventured to send a human. In addition to dogs, monkeys, chimpanzees, rabbits, rats, mice, and fruit flies have all made the journey. After the successful launch of the first man-made satellite, Sputnik 1 on October 4, 1957, the USSR launched Sputnik 2. Inside was the first live space traveler, Laika, a husky. Laika (whose name means "barker" in Russian) traveled in a spacecraft with life-support systems and padded walls. She had access to food and water, and scientists reported that she adapted well to weightlessness. However, Sputnik 2 was not designed to return safely to Earth, so Laika did not survive her flight. There is a monument to fallen cosmonauts in Star City, Russia, which includes an image of Laika peeking out from behind the cosmonauts. To see the story of Laika and many Soviet and American animals, click here. After more experimental flights, the Soviets launched two more dogs on August 19, 1960. Their names were Belka (Squirrel) and Strelka (Little Arrow). Also on the passenger list were 40 mice, 2 rats, a rabbit, and 15 containers of fruit flies. The space travelers spent one day in orbit, then returned safely to Earth. Strelka eventually had puppies and the Soviets sent one to American President John F. Kennedy. To read the amusing and exciting story of the space flight of little Belka and Strelka, check out "Pupniks: The Story of Two Space Dogs" by Ruth Lubka. Click here to get the book from Amazon.com.

House Call for Hubble

House Call for Hubble

Space Shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to launch on October 8, 2008 on a mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope. The Hubble, launched in 1990, orbits 350 miles above Earth. It is in need of some repair and upgrades. The first major optical telescope to be placed in space, the Hubble gives us a clear view of the universe. Because it orbits so high, there are no city lights, rain clouds, or pollution to obstruct its view. The Hubble Space Telescope does not travel to stars, planets, or galaxies. It snaps pictures of them as it orbits around Earth at 17,500 miles per hour. Astronomers are using images from Hubble to observe the most distant stars and galaxies, as well as the planets in our own solar system. To view some of the images from Hubble, go to hubblesite.org/gallery/album/star_collection/pr2006033c
In October, seven astronauts will carry equipment, tools, and new instruments on the fifth and final mission to service the telescope. The repairs and upgrades will help extend the life of the Hubble Space Telescope. Once the space shuttle retires in 2010, we will have no way to repair the Hubble.

The eleven day mission will feature five spacewalks. Astronauts will climb outside the space shuttle to work on the space telescope. They will be dressed in special EVA (extra-vehicular activity) suits to keep them safe as they work, traveling 17,500 miles per hour. What is it like to be whizzing around in orbit 350 miles above Earth? To perform your own simulated EVA go to www.discovery.com/stories/science/iss/i_spacewalk.html