Right before Graduation

Space Camp's last day ended with an IMAX viewing of "Hubble" and presentation of Certification of Completion and presentation of Wings. A totally awesome experience and brand new friends made! Hope you enjoyed my sharing with you. Thank you, family, so much!!!!

Successful survival

One of my team members video taped me and threatened to U Tube it. I must have been quite entertaining as my whole team was applauding. Good grief!

Amazing experience

But don't ask me to push an important button until I have practiced this tons of times!

Getting started

Multi-Axis Trainer

In Astronaut Simulator MAT about to feel what the astronauts would experience if their capsule or shuttle lost control.

One Sixth Gravity

In Astronaut Simulator Microgravity experiencing gravity on the moon in 1/6 Chair

Rocket launch

We made our own rockets on our first day and now at the launch ceremony hoping for launch success. My rocket is "Pink Lady" on the right. All 11 team Columbia rockets launched successfully :)

Back to Mission Control

Final Mission is Charlie. Another Shuttle Enterprise launch for satellite repair. I am EVA Officer directing a new MS-1 and MS-2 team on antenna replacement. Picture is of Saturn V rocket at sunrise.

From Operator's monitor

We are at maximum Space Camp G-force 3.2. Effort to lift legs and touch nose, but no problem in smiling!

In Centrifuge

With team member Anna. Head phones to communicate with Operator. All systems go!

Entering Centrifuge Area

about to experience real G-Force

Mission Bravo complete

Receiving replacement antenna

from MS-2

Maneuvering

Adjusting controls

MS-1...Me

Bravo Mission - As Mission Specialist-1, I get to perform an EVA (extra vehicular activity) from orbiting Space Shuttle Enterprise. MS-2 and I have to replace 2 malfunctioning antenna on an orbiting satellite

Mission Training Center

Day 2 This is where the simulators are set up: Space Shuttle Enterprise, Space Station Lab Area, and Mission Control

Pathfinder

Never in space just led the way for the shuttles that did.

I'm sitting outside in front of the shuttle Pathfinder on top of it's 3 rockets. It is the centerpiece of the Space Camp Center and was the background for our team picture. No one is out here yet. We are meeting for breakfast in a little while. I wanted to walk around by myself for a bit. Thinking how lucky I am to have such a wonderful family to send me on this adventure that I will never forget'

Last mission of the day

As Mission Scientist I had to monitor the Space Station's orbit and relay appropriate logarithm messages when it started losing altitude. Mission Control was great, but I am anxious to be an astronaut fixing an orbiting satellite tomorrow!

Mission Control

I am Instrumentation and Communications Officer and Science Officer on our first mission named Alpha

Saturn 1-B

Took Skylab into Space

I'm in L4-20

Sleeping Modules in Habitat

I'm here!

David is driving me to airport

Boarding truck 0530

Day of take off

At Kelly's ready for ride to airport

Hurray, one bag only

Everything fits in my backpack! I am ready, though I wish I had more time to study astrophysics!

Packing begins

All T-shirts must get ironed before they are rolled up and packed.

My summer reading

Re-reading Michener's "Space" was even more meaningful this time. Brent bought me a book from a library's special sale while we were biking on Ragbrai this summer so I could keep on reading.

My Christmas surprise this year

Kelly & David & Davy & Amy & family surprised me with an Adult Space Camp adventure. Kelly put together my Space Camp Mission Book signed by everyone with itinerary and all valuable information.

I have a star named after me

On Christmas 1998 Davy, Amy & precious family bought me a star named Kathy A Barney. Polaris is it's closest large star neighbor. It is located in Camelopardalis RA 8h 22m 20s D 80d 39m. I wonder if I may get to view it or find out more about it.

A Dream Come True

Ever since I can remember first memories, I have been fascinated with space, the stars, the moon, what was out there.  I wanted to be an astronaut since my dad first read the St. Paul, MN, Pioneer Press’s article to me on October 4, 1957, the day the Soviet Union launched the Sputnik 1 satellite.  I vividly remember my excitement connected to all of these amazing events:

·        May 5, 1961 Alan Shepard became the first American in space in Freedom 7 (MR-7)

·        February 2, 1962 John Glenn became the American in orbital flight in Mercury-Atlas 6, Friendship 7

·        June 3, 1965 Edward White was first American astronaut to walk in space from Gemini 4

·        November 11, 1966 Buzz Aldrin walked in space for 5 hours from Gemini 12

·        July 20, 1969, Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong made their Apollo 11 moon landing and walk, becoming the first two humans to set foot on another world 

·        Then on June 18, 1983 Sally Ride became the first American female astronaut in Space Shuttle Challenger STS-2.  I was so jealous…

From its beginning as the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA); which was a federal agency founded on March 3, 1915 to undertake, promote, and institutionalize aeronautical research, NASA was created on October 1, 1958 in Huntsville, Alabama.  Now I am going to Space Camp there and walk where Wernher von Braun and other amazing people helped us expand our knowledge, wonder, and dreams.