First day at Camp - Expedition 42

My first night i USA was just okey. The time difference were 6 hours so when I finally got to bed at arrival it was 23.00 or 11 pm Alabama time, but in Norway the time was 05.00 so I had to adjust to the new timezone. I had set my alarm to 06.30 am the next day because we were told to be in the lobby at 07.15 every morning.

When the morning came I put on shorts and a t-shirt and was exited to feel the temperature outside. When I went out the front door the warmth hit me in the face and I gasped for air. It was 39 degrees Celsius and the humidity was over 90%. The temperature difference between the aircondition air inside (22 *C) and the air outside was confusing. In Norway we open a window if we are hot, here it is the opposite. Never open a window when it is hot, but keep it close so the aircondition can do its job.

We all gathered in the lobby and outside, almost no one knew each other. I introduced myself to many lovely teachers from all over the world. There were people from:
- All over the USA
- Belgium
- Austria
- Germany
- Australia
- New Zealand
- UK
- Norway
- Japan
- Greece
- Romania
- Costa Rica
- Guatemala

This day and everday we took the Space Camp bus from the dorms to Camp.  This View when the bus drives in at the Camp and you see the big Shuttle and rockets are priceless!

We arrived at Marshall Institute Educator Resoursce Center 

Here we are welcomed to our first briefing; where we got some information about The International Space Camp Expedition 42.

We got a lot of information and even though I understood everything it took some time to get in the English talking and listening mode. It luckily only took a day until my mind started thinking in English, that was a good sign.

We got divided in to teams and I got TEAM HARMONY. All the team names are from the International Space Station. Harmony is a utility hub, also known as "Node 2", providing air, electrical power, water, and other systems essentials to support life on the station. If you want to read more about Harmony follow this link. 

When my group got together after the briefing, a guided tour was in order. Here our first group-picture of many! 

From the top left: Georg (US, South Dakota), Duncan (Belgium), Matthew (UK), Claire (US, Ohio), Jala (US, Huntsville), Jerry (US, West Virginia), Elisabeth (US, Louisiana), Andreas (Germany), 

2.row from left: Me, Amy (US, Pennsylvania) Kris (US, Nebraska) Stephanie (US, California), Jackie (US, New York) and Julia (Austria). 

And last but not least behind the camera, our team leader: the always smiling, enthusiastic and amazing Jamie (US, California). 

Jamie guided us through the Camp both out and inside. 

This is the Habitat where the students lived. 

This was the sign by the door in to the Habitat! Today 10 Space Camp participants have actually become real astronauts! Click under the picture to find out more!

Picture from www.spacecamp.com 

The tour outside was amazing. This view of the Shuttle, the Pathfinder, is truly amazing and everyday I had to take a picture of it (as you will find out)!

Inside there was so much to see. And here is one of my favorite pictures! I think you can guess why!

 Here a picture from one part of the museum that is specially for the younger kids. Here they could use their imagination and learn about space. 

Outside there was a lot of rockets in different sizes. 

This is the G-force! It simulates 3 Gs when it spins around very fast. Here team Harmony is waiting in line for a team experience!

 Wohoo!! I loved it!! 

Through these doors the big Saturn V (five)

In Comparison this is the small rocket, Saturn 1, can you see me? 

 This is the big Saturn V rocket, do you see me now? Actually is not me but someone else, but you get the dimensions. 

This is me inside a replica of the Cupola. The window capsule on the International Space Station. 

 It is team picture time! This picture I received later at graduation and I will share with you later. 

Here we took our team-picture! In front of the lunar module. 

Me on my way to the rocket! Forgot my astronaut suit!! Whopsi! 

I really would love to try on a real astronaut suit like this one, who actually been in space.

 Apollo 11, the eagle has landed! Mission patch from the crew that first landed humans on the moon!

"Look a real moon rock! "

 I would love to stand on the surface of the moon, but I guess this picture of the moon in close enough for now!

 Here is a footprint of the real moonboot to Neal Armstrong, the first man who walked on the moon. Looks like my moonboots that I wear during the winter in Norway! I think I must share a picture when winter comes. 

After an exiting tour it was time to get a lecture about mission patches. One of our assignments as a team was to make our own patch for our journey and missions at Space Camp.


Then there was the Opening Ceremony, where all countries from outside the USA had a small presentation about their country. Me and my students had a presentation about Norway.

I between all the fun we had breakfast, lunch and dinner at the Camp. The food was quite different then what I am used to, and I will address this later in another blog.

And last we had a lecture about Mission O and flight hardware.

We finished at eight o`clock and my head was full of information! Did not feel how tired I was until we came back to the dorms. We just relaxed in our living room and just talked. I really learned so much from my American roommates! Then it was time for bed and another exiting day was waiting for me.

To be continued!