United States Space Camp
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The U. S. Space Camp® is hosted by the U.S. Space & Rocket Center® in Huntsville, Alabama. The camp revolves around themes of space travel and exploration. Space Camp® offers a variety of programs year-round, providing adventures for kids and adults alike.
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[edit] Programs
[edit] Space Camp®
Space Camp is offered for children between nine and 11 years old, and programs are available from a two to six day experience. The curriculum is designed to balance a strong emphasis on education with a spirit of fun. Children enrolling in Space Camp have the option to choose from one of three tracks, each with its own unique activities and areas of study: space, aviation and robotics.
Space Camp was the first of the camp programs offered. From the small groups that attended in 1982 it has grown to have almost 500,000 graduates in week long programs. Summer 2007, will mark the 25th Anniversary of Space Camp and its family of programs.
[edit] Space Academy®
Space Academy is a program intended for ages 12-14, offered in both six- and eight-day sessions. Trainees (campers) may select from two different tracks: the "new" track, for those who have not previously attended the camp, and "alumni," for children who have. It builds on campers' previous experiences.
[edit] Advanced Space Academy®
Advanced Space Academy is designed for young adults aged 15-18 years. There are three tracks offered: Pilot track, pilot track w/ scuba, and mission specialist.
The program was originally known as Space Academy Level II and was started in Fall of 1987.
[edit] Parent/Child® Space Camp
The Parent/Child Space Camp program allows parents or guardians the opportunity to attend Space Camp with their child aged 7-12 years. The program is three to four days in length and includes activities in which the adult and child work together.
Parent/Child also has a Aviation Challenge option. Pilot/Co-Pilot is designed for the young fighter pilots and their adult heroes. Offered during the summer months.
[edit] Space Camp's 25th Anniversary
Space Camp is using the 25th Anniversary to celebrate the history space program and all of its alumni. The summer of 2007 will mark several milestones in the camp's history. For years it has been exciting young people to study math, science, and technology. Along with the 500,000 graduate this summer the U.S. Space & Rocket Center will be adding to the museum with the Space Camp Hall of Fame. This hall of fame will highlight the campers who have used their excitement to inspire and motivate others in math, science and technology. Their hope is to to learn more fascinating stories of alumni and friends.
[edit] Other programs
Space Camp offers several other programs. These include corporate programs, programs for adults and educators and a variety of educational field-trip programs for school groups.
[edit] Simulators
There are simulators at Space Camp, such as:
- The MAT (Multi-Axis-Trainer) – Simulates disorientation, similar to the Multiple Axis Space Test Inertia Facility (MASTIF) developed for Project Mercury
- The 1/6 Chair – Simulates walking on the Moon
- The 5DF Chair – Simulates the frictionless environment of space in five degrees of freedom
- G-Force – Simulates the G-Forces put on astronauts while re-entering the Earth's atmosphere
- Space Shot – Simulates liftoff
[edit] Aviation Challenge®
Aviation Challenge, or AC, offers three main programs for children from ages 9-18, training them to fly, act, and think like United States Air Force or Navy fighter pilots.
Mach I Mach I is the AC program for children from 9-11. Campers learn basic flying skills, such as taking off and landing, dog-fighting, and ground munitions delivery. Campers also participate in survival training on both land and water.
Mach II Mach II is designed for young teens from the ages of 12-14. In Mach II the basic flying skills from Mach I are expanded upon, culminating at the end of the week in a "TopGun" competition, to determine the week's best pilot. While flying campers also learn land and water survival skills and culminate the week in a NAVY SEAL Search and Rescue (SAR) mission during the day, and an escape and evasion activity that night.
There is also an eight day version of Mach II.
Mach III Mach III is the final stage of AC, designed for young adults aged 15-18. Flying in Mach III becomes even more difficult, using full sized simulators, communications, the pairing of a pilot and RIO (Radar Intercept Officer) to work together, and daily missions that are scored. Mach III campers once again learn land and water survival, using equipment such as the "helo-dunker" and a zip line to simulate a parachute landing. Culminating the week is an extensive Navy SEAL Ops mission and very challenging escape and evasion activity.
In 2005, Mach III added a 12 day version for their die hard trainees.
[edit] Accommodation
If a Space Camp program takes more than one day, "campers" stay at the space camp's Habitat 1, seen on the right or Habitat 2 (not pictured) which is located behind Habitat 1. This large building is designed for young people. It is constantly manned by staff and has full CCTV. Male and female rooms are usually separated by floor.
Aviation Challenge trainees stay in Habitat 3 where they are required to maintain military standards to their bays and racks. There are two floors to Hab 3. Males live on half of the ground floor and all of the second floor. Female trainees stay on one hall of the Hab. The bays are named after legendary fliers and military aces.
[edit] Notable Attendees and Guests
- Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger is the first Space Camp alumna to become a NASA astronaut. Metcalf-Lindenburger, a former classroom teacher, was selected as an Educator Astronaut in the 2004 astronaut class. Dottie attended Space Camp as a high school freshman in the spring of 1989.[1]
- Chelsea Clinton attended U.S. Space Camp during Bill Clinton's first term. Hillary Clinton attended the graduation ceremonies.
- Recently, one of Tom Hanks' sons attended camp, and he was present for graduation. (The elder Hanks had a brunch with former Apollo astronauts while in Huntsville.)
- The elder President Bush visited during his term as president, and subsequently was used on the U.S. Space and Rocket Center brochure for a period thereafter.
- Dan Quayle visited during his term as vice president.
- Kris Kristofferson attended along with his son Jesse at Parent/Child Space Camp in the summer of 1992.
- The cast and crew of Apollo 13 visited Space Camp during pre-production.
- Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen attended U.S. Space Camp during production of The Adventures of Mary-Kate & Ashley.
