It's been a long time since my attempt to experience a space shuttle launch in November. It seems like it, anyway. When I got home from the trip and went back to work, I told my students of my disappointment, but that I wasn't going to give up. I could tell they felt bad for me. I brought a "program" of the STS-133 launch/mission for them to look at whenever they had free time, not really thinking anyone would take interest. It contained glossy color pictures of the shuttle, the crew and descriptions of the mission to the space station.
To my surprise, in the past 3 months, many students took quite an interest. When they finish a task, the only thing to do is "read on the floor" (for so many reasons, which I won't get into now). They often choose to read this book, and I'd often look up to scan for behavior (all teachers have multiple eyes for scanning) and see kids huddled around it. I should have bought more than one copy. They loved looking at this book (it is becoming "well-loved" as it is becoming competely mangled by the little hands of adoring children) and began to ask questions. They also asked me to show them where the books about space were in the library and began checking them out. Our school also has a tile from a retired shuttle. They got to hold it and know they were holding something that protects the orbiter and the astronauts from 3,000 degree heat as they reenter earth's atmosphere.
I followed NASA and Kennedy Space Center on Facebook. They're really good about posting just enough so one doesn't want to "hide" them. I was able to stay up-to-date on the progress of the repairs to Discovery. Lots of vocabulary words were being used in their descriptions of what was wrong with her. Words that come to mind..."stringer," "umbilical," "external tank" (I knew that one), and there was lots of talk about foam and leaking. When it was posted that Discovery was being moved back into the gargantuan Vehicle Assembly Building for further repair, I knew it was bad. But I also had faith in the engineers and other people who had a part in fixing what was wrong.
I took the time to occasionally read stories about space to my class. Whenever we had a few minutes between transitions, I'd get the program book out and teach them a tidbit about the shuttle. When the time came to watch the launch, they were knowledgable about the external tank and rocket boosters, that they'd be blasted off and would fall into the ocean. They knew that the orbiter would complete its mission and land like an airplane. They also know that NASA and the shuttle program are responsible for many things in our lives on earth.
"Like what?" When I said, "Cable tv, the internet, and cell phones," they understood. "Ooohhhh..."
On the day of the launch I told them that we'd watch it on the computer. They were very excited. I had it up all day during lessons with the sound off so we could see the getting-ready process. They got to see the astronauts enter the shuttle and the hatch closed. They got to see the inside of the shuttle as the astronauts performed their pre-flight checklists. Since they had learned about solids, liquids, and gases in science earlier, I heard them commenting about the gas they saw coming off the external tank.
To relate it to their own lives a little more, I got out a picture/song book. This Land Is Your Land. I "sang" (if you can call that sound that comes out of me "singing") the lyrics as I showed the pictures of our country. But before I started, I related this book/song to what I've heard the astronauts feel when they get to space and look out at our planet, the only one in our solar system that is perfect enough to support life as we know it. And that is an extreme feeling of awe and love for our very fragile planet and a strong sense of responsibility.
At about 10 minutes to launch, we stopped work and took our seats around the computer. I had slid the monitor to the edge of my desk and tilted it down so no one would complain that they can't see. We could hear the chatter of the commentators, but they could also hear the radio chatter of the astronauts and the people at launch control. I don't think they really knew that this was happening RIGHT NOW. So I told them again that this is not a recording on video or dvd. This is live, and might not actually happen. It's possible that something could go wrong and they'd have to try again tomorrow. And, indeed, when I got home and watched the recording, something did happen that could have scrubbed the launch (not with the shuttle itself). But I was unaware in the classroom.
At about 1 minute to launch (they could see the countdown clock) they suddenly got very quiet. They started to actually listen to the chatter. One asked me, "Who pushes the button?" My response, "I don't know." I kind of got used to saying that. Right after I said that, the announcer told us that the astronauts and the shuttle computer are in complete control. Instructions were given to the astronauts to check the gimbles on the main engines (thank goodness they didn't ask me what a gimble is) and we saw the engines move (much squealing ensued). Then suddenly the engines and the boosters ignited and so did the kids! They suddenly, in unison, began to clap, scream, cheer and smile. We watched the beauty of science unfold as 7 million of pounds of thrust shot the shuttle up and away from earth...
...this happened during their recess time, so I told them they could stay and continue watching (they did, until they saw the boosters fall away) or go to recess. I'm told by my peers (who were on yard duty) that they were very excited to have seen it.
I am aware of what I've done. I know I've given them a first grade memory they will never forget, just as I will never forget when Christa McAuliffe was going to be the first teacher in space or when NASA sent my precious pictures of space. I, also, have been given a precious memory. I will never forget this day. Their reactions as they watched the last launch of Discovery will always make me feel fantastic. It was worth not being in Florida. When I was at Kennedy Space Center in November, I had purchased postcards showing a shuttle launching. I finally got to give them out. One parent told me the next day that her son proudly put it up on his bedroom wall.
The shuttle program is ending and our astronauts will depend on other countries to get them to space to conduct experiments on the space station. I get the sense that our country is just stepping down, a little like when the shuttle reaches max q and has to throttle down before the forces of gravity become too great. But then she powers back up to reach orbit, as I believe the United States will do another day.
I will go to Florida one more time to see the last launch of a space shuttle.
There are two more launches scheduled...one in April (Endeavor) and one in June (Atlantis).
I'm so inspired by NASA I added shuttle jewelry to my etsy store. If you're curious, please visit at
https://www.etsy.com/listing/76775419/small-space-shuttle-necklace
To my surprise, in the past 3 months, many students took quite an interest. When they finish a task, the only thing to do is "read on the floor" (for so many reasons, which I won't get into now). They often choose to read this book, and I'd often look up to scan for behavior (all teachers have multiple eyes for scanning) and see kids huddled around it. I should have bought more than one copy. They loved looking at this book (it is becoming "well-loved" as it is becoming competely mangled by the little hands of adoring children) and began to ask questions. They also asked me to show them where the books about space were in the library and began checking them out. Our school also has a tile from a retired shuttle. They got to hold it and know they were holding something that protects the orbiter and the astronauts from 3,000 degree heat as they reenter earth's atmosphere.
I followed NASA and Kennedy Space Center on Facebook. They're really good about posting just enough so one doesn't want to "hide" them. I was able to stay up-to-date on the progress of the repairs to Discovery. Lots of vocabulary words were being used in their descriptions of what was wrong with her. Words that come to mind..."stringer," "umbilical," "external tank" (I knew that one), and there was lots of talk about foam and leaking. When it was posted that Discovery was being moved back into the gargantuan Vehicle Assembly Building for further repair, I knew it was bad. But I also had faith in the engineers and other people who had a part in fixing what was wrong.
I took the time to occasionally read stories about space to my class. Whenever we had a few minutes between transitions, I'd get the program book out and teach them a tidbit about the shuttle. When the time came to watch the launch, they were knowledgable about the external tank and rocket boosters, that they'd be blasted off and would fall into the ocean. They knew that the orbiter would complete its mission and land like an airplane. They also know that NASA and the shuttle program are responsible for many things in our lives on earth.
"Like what?" When I said, "Cable tv, the internet, and cell phones," they understood. "Ooohhhh..."
On the day of the launch I told them that we'd watch it on the computer. They were very excited. I had it up all day during lessons with the sound off so we could see the getting-ready process. They got to see the astronauts enter the shuttle and the hatch closed. They got to see the inside of the shuttle as the astronauts performed their pre-flight checklists. Since they had learned about solids, liquids, and gases in science earlier, I heard them commenting about the gas they saw coming off the external tank.
To relate it to their own lives a little more, I got out a picture/song book. This Land Is Your Land. I "sang" (if you can call that sound that comes out of me "singing") the lyrics as I showed the pictures of our country. But before I started, I related this book/song to what I've heard the astronauts feel when they get to space and look out at our planet, the only one in our solar system that is perfect enough to support life as we know it. And that is an extreme feeling of awe and love for our very fragile planet and a strong sense of responsibility.
At about 10 minutes to launch, we stopped work and took our seats around the computer. I had slid the monitor to the edge of my desk and tilted it down so no one would complain that they can't see. We could hear the chatter of the commentators, but they could also hear the radio chatter of the astronauts and the people at launch control. I don't think they really knew that this was happening RIGHT NOW. So I told them again that this is not a recording on video or dvd. This is live, and might not actually happen. It's possible that something could go wrong and they'd have to try again tomorrow. And, indeed, when I got home and watched the recording, something did happen that could have scrubbed the launch (not with the shuttle itself). But I was unaware in the classroom.
At about 1 minute to launch (they could see the countdown clock) they suddenly got very quiet. They started to actually listen to the chatter. One asked me, "Who pushes the button?" My response, "I don't know." I kind of got used to saying that. Right after I said that, the announcer told us that the astronauts and the shuttle computer are in complete control. Instructions were given to the astronauts to check the gimbles on the main engines (thank goodness they didn't ask me what a gimble is) and we saw the engines move (much squealing ensued). Then suddenly the engines and the boosters ignited and so did the kids! They suddenly, in unison, began to clap, scream, cheer and smile. We watched the beauty of science unfold as 7 million of pounds of thrust shot the shuttle up and away from earth...
...this happened during their recess time, so I told them they could stay and continue watching (they did, until they saw the boosters fall away) or go to recess. I'm told by my peers (who were on yard duty) that they were very excited to have seen it.
I am aware of what I've done. I know I've given them a first grade memory they will never forget, just as I will never forget when Christa McAuliffe was going to be the first teacher in space or when NASA sent my precious pictures of space. I, also, have been given a precious memory. I will never forget this day. Their reactions as they watched the last launch of Discovery will always make me feel fantastic. It was worth not being in Florida. When I was at Kennedy Space Center in November, I had purchased postcards showing a shuttle launching. I finally got to give them out. One parent told me the next day that her son proudly put it up on his bedroom wall.
The shuttle program is ending and our astronauts will depend on other countries to get them to space to conduct experiments on the space station. I get the sense that our country is just stepping down, a little like when the shuttle reaches max q and has to throttle down before the forces of gravity become too great. But then she powers back up to reach orbit, as I believe the United States will do another day.
I will go to Florida one more time to see the last launch of a space shuttle.
There are two more launches scheduled...one in April (Endeavor) and one in June (Atlantis).
I'm so inspired by NASA I added shuttle jewelry to my etsy store. If you're curious, please visit at
https://www.etsy.com/listing/76775419/small-space-shuttle-necklace
