On the 19th of September 2005 Archana, Hitesh, Samantha and I, all pupils at Highfields Science Specialist School set off on the trip of a life time to see the real NASA. We were going to meet world famous British and American, Astronauts and Cosmonauts, and see some of Florida’s and Houston’s best tourist and VIP attractions. The trip started with a one night stay in London. Near Gatwick airport where we met all the other ISSET winners from around the country. The day after was the day in my opinion where the trip really started and where I really began to get excited.
It was an early start, we all had to wake up at 6:00am to catch our 10:30am flight which I found pretty hard but just about managed. The flight to Houston was a 9 hour flight, landing at 7:30pm followed by an hour drive to the Wakulla Hotel where we would spend the next 4 nights. That night I couldn’t sleep, a mixture of the humid weather and great excitement made it really hard to sleep. Read the rest of this entry »
filed under Student Blogs November 18th, 2005 Lawrence
A second set of photos from Lawrence is online now:
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filed under Student Blogs November 3rd, 2005 Richard Anderson
Hello everyone,
We are back in Wolverhampton now. It feels a bit weird being back, it seems to be getting dark early and I keep thinking people are driving on the wrong side of the road. The whole trip has been so amazing that it is hard to pick a favourite day or experinace. I thought the astronaut training experinace in the Kennedy Space Centre was one of the best. I loved going on all the simulators particulary the G-force one where you get spun around very fast and then get lifted up so it feels like you are falling very fast. I also found the Mission Control Centre and the Neutral Buoyancy Lab in Houston Space Centre incredible. On the last night of the trip we went to Astronaut Scott Kelly’s house for a little party. It was surreal to be amoungt astronauts and rocket scientists. One of the astronauts there was Michael who is the American Record holder for longest time living in space, he had spent over 380 days living and working in space. I had a bit of a problem with my camera and it deleted all my pictures so I haven’t got any to show you.
Before going on this trip I already had a big interest in space and astromony but now it has grown immensely. I now know that this is a field that I wish to go into as a career. I would like to thank ISSET for giving me the chance to experience this once in a life time opportunity and also all the people on the trip for making it so great. Thank you.
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filed under Student Blogs October 31st, 2005 Samantha
A large collection of Lawrence’s photographs from the Step Into Space visit to the USA is now online in a photo gallery on this page:
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filed under Student Blogs October 31st, 2005 Richard Anderson
Hello everyone,
Our flight departed at 7 p.m. Houston time, it took 9 hours and we arrived at Gatwick at 9 a.m. this morning. I got very little sleep on the plane as it was so uncomfortable. I am feeling exhausted!
Well done to Sam, Hitesh, Archana and Lawrence, and all of the other pupils for working so hard and making my visit so enjoyable.
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filed under Student Blogs October 30th, 2005 Mr Mehmi
The students and Mr. Mehmi are flying back to the UK, and are due to arrive back at about 9 a.m. tomorrow morning. Congratulations to them on completing their adventure! I hope that the reality lived up to the dream, and that getting out of bed for school on Monday morning is not too hard . . .
If any of the the students have other photographs that they’d like to share on the blog, I would be delighted to receive and publish them. Just complete the contact form on the contact page with your email address and I will reply with details of how to send pictures.
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filed under Student Blogs October 29th, 2005 Richard Anderson
"I am writing this paragraph in an Italian restaurant, after having a signed statement from the Head of the JSC. The place we went to was the actual work-place of NASA employees. Something visitors do not see - and I have to say it is very cold. Not as in the air-conditioning - but in the term of it having been empty, and that when you passed the occasional worker, most of them had blank faces. I looked at a few of them, and some of them did smile, just not so from their eyes.” I suppose it’s because they’re not used to people being in their work place, but we were all exceptionally polite. However, the engineers and mechanics? They’re great! Especially - no, I’ll tell you about it tomorrow. They’re all so engaged in their woek, and you can see in their eyes when they talk about what they do that they honestly enjoy and believe in it. It’s pleasing to see someone so commited to their work. They’re so willing, anjd they look like everyday people you’d meet in the street. That’s the best thing about them - they’re genuine but they initially don’t look it. I must say however, that some of their voices are not so engaging, and as a result, I end up staring at them, seeing their face change in my eyes".
Sorry guys, but it’s an early start tomorrow, and I want to get my sleep. I’ll leave the last question unanswered. I’ll get more information when we go to the assorted barbeque tomrrow eveing. Bye1 Love and miss you so much! Soon I’ll be home! Seejms as though I shouldn’t go yet, as I did before I came, as it is too soon! Seems too soon, that is! All the same, I’m relieved - but tired! Goodnight/ good morning!
filed under Student Blogs October 28th, 2005 Archana
Yes, you could tell. Almost as though the water was valuing, savouring, its chance to reamin as calm as it would get for quite a while. The next day the water poured, rained, and hammered down. I woke up at four, to the sound of the roaring wind, and lashing rain give or take the occasional rumble of thunder. I grew uncomfortable, " . . and a chill ran down me, it was as though I would be turning a blind eye to the danger we were in, or at least the danger I felt myself to be in. The next morning, we were delayed in setting off, and we watched a clip of a film about a plane blowing up on the runway. On leaving Cocoa Beach, thw "weather is dismal. The wind was and is very very strong . . and the tain is coming down like anything." In fact, it was so heavy and constant, that it had actually damaged the sides of the stencilled writing on the minibus. The weather was cold " . and bitter, the chill runs through us all through and through. We had been sat, plus Chris and Matthew, in our suite, the six of us with our luggage around the room. With us somberly, it felt, drinking Sprite from a can, watching the film intently." I think once I had been cleared, and the queues began; when the searches and comical bare footed people passed though the security gate; when we were a few minutes short of the Departure Gate, and when Dan had to be escorted onto the plane, I began to calm down. I think I had hoped the weather would just be rain. though it spoiled the view, "I didn’t want to know, or comprehend, the fact that high and extreme winds could happen, That the mini tornado in Brevard County had happened, and that we were not on a plane with heavy turbulence. A plane which carried the danger of being caught up in the high gusts, selfish though it may seem, with me on the plane . . The night before we had discussed, and this morning, about the concept of death. Selina and Sama were saying that they’re happy their families aren’t with them as they wouldn’t get hurt, but sad that no-one is there to parentally console them. And that compensation of around two million dollars, was it?, would be given to our families if we died. I can tell you, it’s not comfortable thinking about it now. I’ll just focus on relaxing, by that tip that lady on the tv had said to do. No, it hasn’t worked." I was relieved that we were at least going on this day, that we were escaping Wilma by literally a few hours. Relieved, but apprehensive and tense.
filed under Student Blogs October 28th, 2005 Archana
I’ll head on straight onto the answers of the questions. If you’ve read ‘Apologies,’ you’ll catch up. Firstly, the highlights of the trip have no definite answer. It varies. You have a headlight or two on each day, and as each day is different - though not necessary in different places - you cannot compare them to eachother. What I am trying to say is that each day is and was unique, I cannot possibly give you a complex answer. But ask yourself this one question, what have all the days got in common? America, issues discussed realted to space and the space agency itself . . In fact, thinking of it, I think the highlight would be before the physical trip even began. The discovery of me having won; the confusion to purchase everything necessary; and seeing America for the first time. But a highlight of the actual trip in America? Sorry, I cannot possibly answer that.
Secondly, I personally felt fear whilst driving to the Orlando Airport on Monday morning. I know Wilma was quite far away from us, but just the thought of it heading our way, and it out there, really unnerved me. I quote from my notepad, on the night before us departing, " . . . when I went to the living room, I stood there, watching the TV . . I had stood and sat in front of the TV, watching the weather forecasts until after eleven. I could have fallen asleep, which is why I did eventually go to bed." But even then, I recalled on the scary weather out by the Italian Carrabera? on our last night "the sky was brilliantly alight with silent but constant, so constant, lightning. It wasn’t forked, it lit up the whole of the sky, and only a minute later, a small rumble of thunder could be heard. The lightning was erratic, but after a while, as you looked upon it without fear in your eyes, it seemed regular, and, even beautiful . .but the water was so still" THis image and scenery, the tense atmosphere, reminded me of the Lord Of The Rings, ‘the sigh before the deep plunge’ is it? You couldn’t have known a hurricane was coming our way - but you knew something was.
filed under Student Blogs October 28th, 2005 Archana
I can’t write too much, supposed to be meeting downstairs at six to have a meeting with Scott Kelly. Mr Anderson, all the questions you asked on your entry are in my note pad. Every single one, in some shape or form. What I’ll do is quote extracts from my notepad in answer to those questions. Gotta go now, thanks for your comments. Love and miss you.
filed under Student Blogs October 27th, 2005 Archana
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