Tuesday, September 9, 2008
SECURITY FIRST! We all have to get our badges and get clearance to go to the mission buildings for the International Space Station. I think we are all eager to meet Constance Adams, our Host Researcher. As we drive through the NASA facility we are all excited about what we will get to see today and whom we will get to meet. I would really like to meet an astronaut. As we drive up to building 9NE I think it looks like an airplane hangar, a really big one. Student Argos Anthony, Madhu and Hannah are all ready to go inside and see the International Space Station and meet Constance Adams.

We finally get to go inside and see the Space Station modules. Each module has a name and country's flag on the side. I think about how people have to live inside of these units and work all while being weightless. The Argonauts and I get to go through the modules and look at all the different units and how they are used. In one of the units there are aquariums that hold experiments on fish, mice, plants and insects and how they react in a weightless environment. I found these particularly intriguing because I had never thought about what kind of experiments they do in space. I wonder if I could live in space for an extended period of time.

Next on our agenda is going outside to build a heating module for a space habitat on the moon (or Mars). The students and I are given a box that has been painted black, some tubing, a thermometer, some ice water, and other equipment (tape, plastic, etc.) to build a unit that could help heat our habitat using only the sun. So there we are, sitting on these rocks that are used as a Mars simulation area for the rover. It is hot, uncomfortable and totally fun working with the other Argonauts on this project. We have no idea how to get started. This is a total inquiry lesson on how to use what you have to build what you need.

We start measuring our box, our tubing, our plastic for the cover and trying to figure out how much tape we will need to put it all together. Then Constance arrives and helps us put our problems into perspective. She brings up how we must plan our unit on paper first, then start putting it together. We all work together and finally get a unit together to test. We immediately figure out that we have some design flaws, but only after Anthony gets completely wet because we put the water drain on the wrong side. We figured out that we should have done some more planning first. However, we did get the temperature to go up… so even though it had flaws… we at least had a working model that we could improve on.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008
We film in the studio, making a space unit. Madhu and I work on a greenhouse that would work on Mars or the moon. As we work together on this unit we have to take many things into consideration. I have been put in the place of a student working on a lab with another student. This is great for me and gives me insight as to how students work together as a team. Madhu and I plan the greenhouse, working on the shape and how it will look. One of the considerations has to be how it will be put together once it is on the moon (or Mars). All the pieces have to be shipped and the weight and size has to be carefully considered. At first it was easy to figure out how to make the greenhouse. Then we started thinking about how it had to fit on the kitchen that Hannah and Anthony were working on beside us.

Constance comes in and gives us her expert advice on how we can make our greenhouse work better and considerations that we had not thought of that need to be worked into the design. This gives me a new respect on what she actually has to work with on a daily basis to keep the astronauts safe and able to work efficiently. Madhu and I then had to rethink some of the parts that we had planned. The greenhouse had to have water. The kitchen would have wastewater that could be used in the greenhouse. As we worked on the details the challenges came with keeping the structure lightweight for shipping and yet sturdy enough to last for a long time. The greenhouse could be built as a module. This way it could be added on to at a later date.

Later Wednesday afternoon we work inside the hangar, putting together another space heating unit. This time Constance helped us see how it needs to be more carefully put together. The measurements, tubing, covering and entire unit must be airtight so that it will show how the temperature actually changes. One of the other considerations is how to measure the temperature. We must place the thermometer where we can actually make accurate temperature readings on a regular basis so that we can see if the procedure actually works. The tubing for the water must be placed so that the water can easily be put through the tubing along with how it drains. Constance points out that it would be expensive to repair a unit that did not work properly or had unnecessary leaks. Our second unit was much better put together and was less likely to fail.

Thursday, September 11, 2008
Everything is packed and ready to go. Hurricane Ike is coming toward the Gulf Coast and we wonder if it is heading in our direction. Our schedule gets changed. We are going to NASA to finish filming and then wait and see if we are going to leave today.

Being from the Gulf Coast – the word evacuate has a bigger meaning. I have been in many hurricanes. However, evacuating took on many new meanings today. When we get to NASA everyone is covering up the modules that we were working in yesterday and securing the building in case of high winds and rain. The Argonauts and I finish working on our Mars/moon modules and try to figure out how they would fit together.

Then the decision comes and the evacuation is underway. Keeping calm takes some effort but it is necessary to keep the Student Argonauts mentally focused on what we need to complete for filming and getting all of our questions asked and answered. True to being great young people, they take it as an adventure and stay together working hard. The film crew then has to break down everything and pack it being sure to not forget anything. Things move really fast. As we leave NASA we look back wondering what the next few days will bring for the Texas Gulf Coast.

Q&A with Argonaut Cindy:

You filmed Mission 5 in Houston, close to where you're from, how was it to play tour guide to the other Argos?

I got to show the Argonauts some of the Houston hot spots – The Houston Museum of Natural Science and the Zoo! Since I am a science teacher these are some of my favorite Houston places. The Argonauts enjoyed the museum. The mineral exhibit is one of the best in the United States and there is also a gem exhibit. Madhu and Hannah wanted to take some of those sparkly gems home! It was fun getting to share this with the Argonauts. After we toured the mineral and gem exhibit I was able to show the Argonauts the Earth sculpture that revolves, seeming to float on a thin layer of water. The Argonauts were fascinated that such a heavy object could be moved effortlessly with just a touch. Then we headed back inside to finish looking at the dinosaur exhibit and the Weiss Energy Hall… afterwards we headed to the zoo.