September 29
It's amazing how things just pick up where they left off. Two months ago we were all laughing our heads off and having a great time at Boot Camp and from the moment Mission 1 started (yesterday), we've been laughing, learning, and just enjoying one another's company.

First and foremost, I think Colorado is an amazing place. I can see why people from all over the world are drawn to this place. There's a natural beauty and mystique about it.

The sometimes annoying thing about being a teacher is that I often forget about the beauty and mystery, and instead observe things from an educational point of view. For instance, during our little hike today, I stopped and peered across the magnificent skyline created by the setting sun behind the mountains and thought to myself, hmmm… this would be good to show my Grade 9 students as to what convergent tectonic plate movements can produce over millions of years. I guess it's not that bad. I think that being a teacher is something that keeps me young. The energy, enthusiasm, and endless curiosity of my students, especially these young Student Argonauts, is invigorating.

Today, we met Dr. Janet Green, a brilliant space physicist, who will be our Host Researcher for Mission 1, Operation: Infinite Potential.

Dr. Janet Green was very interesting. We learned that her career path into space weather started out as a video game tester. It's always fascinating to listen to people's stories and how they've ended up where they are. Janet was very generous and patient with her time answering all the questions the Argos had about space, the sun, coronal mass ejections, and space weather. Tomorrow we will be going to Dr. Green's laboratory near the mountains and I am looking forward to learning more about space weather and how it impacts us here on Earth.

September 30
Today we met one of Dr. Green's colleagues, an Irish scientist by the name of Bill. His job is to help promote the importance of space weather forecasting. We learned that besides affecting satellite communication, power grids, global positioning systems, air transport routes, mobile phone communications, the Aurora Borealis and Australis Borealis, space weather also affects cute little pigeons? I never realized space weather had such an impact on pigeons!

Can you explain how space weather affects pigeons?

October 1
Today we had a long day of filming at the LASP (Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics). We learned a lot about building satellites from Bill the rocket scientist.

It's surprising the many different factors scientists and engineers need to consider when putting one of these things into space. I've compiled a list of the top 10 factors we need to consider when building satellites:

	Factor 10: Space wind carries highly charged particles so be sure to protect sensitive electronics using tantalum. It's really strong stuff.
	Factor 9: Make sure all the circuitry is put together in a dust proof room by a person wearing a bunny suit.
	Factor 8: Don't let foreign nationals into the satellite control room :)
	Factor 7: If something falls off your satellite when you shake it around a bit in the lab, then don't send it into space.
	Factor 6: The sun is hot so always be sure to point the delicate bits away from it.
	Factor 5: Gold is a good material for satellites because it's not very reactive and… Mr. T likes it.
	Factor 4: Space gets super cold and when two metals are side by side when its cold they cold weld: or stick together. Cold welding makes satellite latches not work properly.
	Factor 3: If your calculations say that your satellite can only withstand 15 G forces…then don't send it into space using a rocket that exerts 50 Gs.
	Factor 2: When building satellites, don't believe everything an engineer says. On the other hand, scientists aren't always right either. I think you should just trust your teacher.
	And the number 1 factor you should consider when building a satellite… Factor 1: Make sure you have a cool name for it.

October 2
Today is the last day of filming and it's always so sad saying our farewells to the other Argonauts, crew and Host Researchers. We learned a lot about science and it was a lot of fun doing it! The crew was amazing, the Argos were brilliant and Dr. Janet Green was inspirational and so generous with her time. We learned a lot about her research and have a new appreciation as to how solar flares and coronal mass ejections can impact our lives. We learned that they can cause power surges, communication failure, and even lead pigeons astray!

Q&A with Argonaut Bryan:

What's the hardest part of being an Argo?

Saying goodbye! It's going to be sad going back to Australia and leaving my Student Argos. They are brilliant young students who possess an innate curiosity as well as an eagerness to learn about and explore their surroundings. These Student Argos – Joey, Lindsay and Toba – truly personify the title of this Energy Curriculum: INFINITE POTENTIAL!

What's one of the best parts about being an Argo?

Being greeted at the airport with a big, "AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE… Oi Oi Oi…" was a very nice surprise. I think the Argos had been waiting for me at the arrivals terminal for quite some time and by the sounds of things, I think they had been practicing quite a bit. I feel so privileged to be apart of The JASON Project, you get to work with amazing students and scientists in cool locations all over the world. That's what makes it so great!