Every kid's most fervent dream is to experience what it is like to be an astronaut. The NASA sponsored Space camp in Huntsville, Alabama makes this dream a possibility. The week long programs help the kid experience what its like to be an astronaut. Some of these programs are offered along with other community programs like 4-H. Attending a Space Camp can be one of the most meaningful and interesting experiences of your child's life. The Space Camp program in Alabama has an age limit, and the full camp is available to kids who are at least 12 years old. Of course, there are special programs at the center for younger kids that offer many activities they do not quite appreciate. However, it gives them the chance to assert that they are old enough to be away from home. The programs and activities at Space Camp are designed to awaken creativity and curiosity. The kids learn to design a lunar colony, and attend classes and seminars to know about the history of the space program. They learn about the Soviet space program as well as the United States program in these classes. They are also taken on trips to the museum to gain an education experience. But Space Camp is not only about sitting in classes and designing lunar colonies. They explore life size mock-ups of space shuttles. They get first hand experience of being in quarters with bunks that look exactly like they would on a space station or colony, not somewhere in Alabama. Of course, "astronaut training" is the best part of Space Camp. Space Camp attendees go through a sort of training. They get to wear space suits to find out what they feel like. They go in simulators to learn how to “fly” spacecraft (like the shuttle). They ride in a centrifuge to feel the pressure of gravity. And there are zero gravity simulations that can help them understand the feeling of weightlessness. And for added fun, there is a contraption designed to help attendees understand what walking on the moon feels like. After going through all of the “training,” the Space Camp participants get to run a simulated mission. Everyone on board the ship has a role (pilot, payload specialist, space walk, etc.) to play in completing the mission successfully. And, because sequencing and time are important in real space missions, these are elements present in the simulated mission. If you mess up, your simulator shakes you around and you know what it is like to crash and burn. Depending on how much time you have, you may get to run the mission more than once. Thus you may be able to play different roles. This way you not only have fun but also learn more about the space program by doing more. Kids can spark off an interest in science and Space after attending Space Camp. This unique program provides a complete Space learning experience that takes the kids away into an exciting world so different from its actual location in Huntsville, Alabama.
About the author: Robert Balwinder is the chief writer at Alabama Home, there's a wealth of knowledge on the website, plus why not sign up for the free Alabama newsletter. For more quality articles on Alabama why not visit: www.alabamah.com/articles Click here for other unique alabama articles.
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