i Phones In Space

The Team of the Atlantis Mission:



Image above: Pictured in the STS-135 crew portrait are NASA astronauts Chris Ferguson (center right), commander; Doug Hurley (center left), pilot; Rex Walheim and Sandy Magnus, both mission specialists. Image credit: NASA
According to recent press release:
Atlantis will carry the Raffaello multipurpose logistics module to deliver supplies, logistics and spare parts to the International Space Station. The mission also will fly a system to investigate the potential for robotically refueling existing spacecraft and return a failed ammonia pump module to help NASA better understand the failure mechanism and improve pump designs for future systems.



It is a long standing tradition that started with the Mercury missions- the Apollo astronauts took small items to the moon and brought the mementos back to hand out. It began with a simple roll of coins carried into space and has continued and grown to include flags, patches, and - strangely- a wedge of cheese! (you read it right)

On the mission Atlantis- scheduled for lift off on July 8 - there will be some 800 american flags, more than 500 mission patches, a Nascar racing cap from Joe Gibbs, a recipe card, and for the first time ever- AN iphone.  The app was specially designed for the mission and will aid with various experiments.
The app is called "SpaceLab for iOS" - Cool, right?

The STS-135 Mission Patch

Commemorative trinkets that have made their way into space and back to earth are located all around the world and are proudly displayed in schools, and museums in order to inspire a spirit of adventure.

Well, I have to say- WE APPROVE! We are all about ADVENTURE!

And on that note. . . . .  I'm off like a rocket - we are headed to
 Kennedy Space Center!!!! (i know, i know- so excited)
 - well, close by anyhow. We will camp out and swim and play.
 We will fish, and kayak, and visit museums.

 We will cook over an open camp fire and sleep under the stars. And,
if the weather co-operates . . . . .

we will be there to witness the final Space Shuttle.

I am so excited! The boys are trying to settle me down -

And, I've put together a study unit to work on with the boys while we wait for this momentous occasion that I'll be happy to share with you later- along with some new campfire recipes!

Don't forget to follow the Shuttle events! It's the last opportunity you will have to share this great American tradition with your children. You don't have to be there to make it memorable.

Try: an "astronaut meal" (use foil packets of salmon or tuna to represent space food)
Look up mission information on NASA's web site-
check out The Space Place for kids
and also- NASA's Kids Club

. . .  headed out to the great outdoors on our new adventure!
Thanks for stopping by-
kelli

      

(link ups start on Friday- but we'll be counting down to lift-off!)