NASA/Traveling Space Museum Volunteer Opportunity

(Note: This comes to us from our friend Juanita, who taught at Toyon Elementary School, one of the schools in the visit list. The original announcement comes from NASA Ames.)

Volunteers are invited to help NASA inspire the next generation of space explorers as part of the Summer of Innovation 2010. NASA Ames in partnership with the Traveling Space Museum is sponsoring "Space Day" at six Bay Area schools that serve underrepresented student populations. During the "Space Day," students will visit approximately 13 activity stations that include an International Space Station module mock-up, Orion capsule simulator, space station toilet, hovercraft and water rockets.

The NASA Ames/Traveling Space Museum opportunity dates are:

• April 23- Toyon Elementary School, San Jose


• April 27- Ronald McNair Academy, East Palo Alto


• May 18- California School for the Blind, Fremont


• May 20- Peter Burnett Academy, San Jose


• May 25- American Indian Public Charter School, Oakland


• May 27- Cesar Chavez Middle School, Union City

The "Space Day" events are scheduled during the school day typically between 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Participants will be provided training and scripts at each activity station.

Volunteers who are available to assist with one or more "Space Day" events should contact Jonas Dino at 650-604-5612 or jonas.dino@nasa.gov.

For information about the Traveling Space Museum, please visit:
http://travelingspacemuseum.org

NASA/Traveling Space Museum Space Day Hands-On Activities

1. Odyssey III Mobile SpaceLab Module. The Odyssey IV is a 23 foot-long mock up of a module that would be a part of the International Space Station. This space laboratory simulation has interactive workstations equipped with laptop computers, DVD players and other hardware that mimics what astronauts actually use in space. Students will learn what it is like to live and work in space when they experience the Odyssey IV Mobile SpaceLab.


2. Orion CRV Flight Simulator. This 12 foot long full-motion flight simulator not only looks like a space shuttle inside and out -- it also behaves like flight simulators used by the military and commercial airlines. Students can easily control the half- ton hydraulically actuated craft with a simple side mounted joystick. Students will learn how to control the simulator on its three axis of motion as well as the value of having a modern Crew Return Vehicle or "lifeboat," aboard the International Space Station.


3. BD-5J Microjet. Kids think its cool! The Guinness Book of World Records calls the BD-5J ‘the World’s Smallest Jet.’ Featured in the James Bond thriller “Octopussy,” the thirteen foot-long jet seats one and lets you manipulate ailerons, rudder and even the landing gear. Rumor says that the Micro-jet even foiled Soviet radar. Climb inside and be a part of history!


4. Space Toilet. Students learn the one thing they’ve always wanted to know about the space program exactly how astronauts go to the bathroom.


5. Big Bang Trivia. This is the Traveling Space Museum's send-up on a famous trivia game show. In our version, young contestants must contend with multiple-choice answers so wacky that only alert adults can appreciate all the subtle gags. The right answers are explained and contestants can win prizes.


6. Pluto Probe. This full-scale mockup built by Cal Tech students during the old of US--Soviet co-operation in space inspired this large model that spurs spirited discussion about Pluto and its recent demotion.


7. Wright Kite. The Wright Brothers first flew in the air lying across large bi-wing kites. Learning about early aviation is fun when students examine this highly detailed half-scale (twelve foot wingspan) bi-wing model kite that is built exactly the way the Wright Brothers built them while they were perfecting their famous “Flyer.”


8. Mission Control Console. Modeled after the NASA’s Mission Control Console, this exhibit of TV monitors and computers is wired to the Odyssey IV SpaceLab so that students can videoconference with classmates remotely. For many, it’s an introduction to videoconferencing.


9. Space Suits Demonstration. Every kid will want to dress up in these light weight (clean room) paper suits which are cool to wear on the hottest days and even cooler looking. Clear bubble helmets and plastic appliances completes the look.


10. Lunar Roving Vehicle. This reworking of our old Lunar Utility Vehicle emphasizes NASA pioneering of clean electric battery technology with the development of the "Fuel Cell."


11. Anti-Gravity Boots. Slip your feet inside these boots and bounce your way across the schoolyard. The effect is that of being 1/6 of your normal weight. It’s like walking on the moon.


12. The TSM Hovercraft. Inspired by a TV commercial, TSM court wizards put two large leaf blowers to work and now a five-foot disk floats a quarter inch off the ground. Kids learn about inertia by climbing onboard and becoming human hockey pucks!


13. Water Rockets. The action-reaction principle was never so much fun.