Additional Flight 2 Photos

Cynthia and Todd in Zero G!!!!!

Miami Mission Control Tours Johnson Space Center

TFS gave us an amazing tour of the Johnson Space Center: the National Buoyancy Lab, where astronauts train, and the Mission Control Center. NASA’s latest rover was also on display for the public. We aslo got to see the NASA team preparing for the final shuttle launch next week and working with the International Space Station. Awesome!

Whatta 'Bout the Worms?

You may be wondering what did the flight do to the worms?

We flew 2 separate loads - one group on Tuesday and another on Wednesday.

Each load had the following:

*40 larvae at instar 1 (baby worms - tiny, about 3 mm long)

*40 larvae at instar 4 (large worms - about 20 mm (2 cm) long)

*40 pupae (worms that have gone into the cocoon state)

Our ground control group of worms consisted of:

*80 larvae instar 1

*80 larvae instar 4

AFTER THE FLIGHT:

Upon landing we noticed all the larvae (worms) were very lethargic and looked dead.  Many of them were lying upside down and not moving.  After one day back on the ground we inspected all the specimens.  After gathering the observations we noticed a trend!  Surprisingly, the number of dead specimens was no different from the control group.  But, we did notice that the flight larvae/instar 4 had pupated (turned into cocoons) at a much slower rate than the ones that had NOT been flown.  The flight appears to have delayed the pupation time (time needed to turn into a cocoon).

(Above) A freshly formed pupa - the worm has begun making it's cocoon!

 This pupa above has been injured by the flight and is oozing some white fluid!

A larvae that is very lethargic after the flight!

What happens next?
We are really curious about the effects of the flight on the cocoons.  We think that the cocoons will not emerge with as many healthy moths as the control group.  We expect to see possible mutations and abnormalities as well.  The cocoons should have moths emerge in the next few days.

All 4 teachers experienced Zero-G and survived!

Cynthia and Todd completed their Zero Gravity experience and came back with smiles from ear to ear!  Happy to report not one of the Miami Mission Control Team members got sick on the flight and enjoyed every SECOND of it!  Here are some pictures of from the 2nd flight........

TRIP AND FLIGHT PICTURES SO FAR!

Please check out all of our trip pictures at the link below to our online album!

Miami Mission Control Team Pictures Link

Cynthia and Todd just took off.  Erin and I (Tom) we able to watch the plane lift off.  
We even got to feel a jet blast at a safe distance - turning around we felt the hot air engine blast!  Some people lost their hats and glasses across the field! 


More to come when Todd and Cynthia get back with all their exciting stories of the experience!

Video's from Zero G

check out some video clips from our adventure in Zero G!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtzBnwxbxIc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leq4bzTVzoU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jy0MenWDET4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkPc6C9dzAQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1UpHfqV88E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4Cl_BAcOO0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhVDfQtt75E - this one is really cool because you can see how VERTICAL the plane really was!  Go Mr. Gantt!

Flight 1 of 2 Complete!!!

Erin and Tom have just returned from the first of 2 flights the team will fly!!  Tom said the experience was a 25 on a scale of 1 to 10!!!  More info on this flight will follow...

Here we go.....

Today is the big day!  Thomas Gantt and Erin Abramoff will be boarding the G-Force One today at approximately 8:30 am to experience a once in a lifetime opportunity..............the feeling of weightlessness, 2 G forces, Martian gravity and Lunar gravity. The feelings we are having are indescribable.  Trying to sleep last night was interesting, feeling almost like the night before Christmas, not knowing what to expect and how you are going to feel.  Stay tuned for pictures that are OUT OF THIS WORLD.......

Why he is such an inspiration......

This is the email Dr. Wilson sent the team.  Thank you again Dr. Wilson! 

as, the flight will surely take your breath(s) away.

 I have liked the aphorism for some time:
"Life's not the breaths you take but, the moments that take your breath away."
As you know, George Strait recently wrote a song around it.

So, in case you have not heard it (not being an honorary Texas like me), or forgotten!...

(chorus)
"Life's not the breaths you take
Breathin in and out
That gets you through the day
Ain't what it's all about.
You might just miss the point
Tryin to win the race.
Life's not the breaths you take
But, the moments that take your breath away..."

I wanted to use the words to accompany the attached 'story' that I penned when working in Puerto Rico last month in 12 schools as part of my Future Scientists Program.

I hope that you are all well and thriving.
I shall wear my Miami Mission Control Team shirt with pride tomorrow for flight #1 and again for flight #2.  Thank you.  I feel honored to be included in such a dynamic group of teachers dedicated to improving the lives and vision of the students in their care and to living life to the full themselves-an essential component.

Take care:
Craig

Free Days

After our first day at NASA, we were given Saturday and Sunday to collect any necessary materials for our experiment.  But mainly we got to go out and check out Houston and all that it has to offer.  We first hit the Zoo which had everything from zebras, chimps, lions and bears!  Ms. Veiga and Mrs. Abramoff got to feed the giraffes too!  LONG TONGUES....... :P
After the zoo the whole team went to the Houston Museum of Natural Science where we looked at fine jewelry, mollusks, dioramas (very similar looking to the animals we saw at the zoo only an hour before) and some BIG dinosaurs! 
We then went off to the MFHA: Museum of Fine Arts in Houston which included collections from, but not limited to, Carlos Cruz: A color in space and time, European Art, and  Charles Ledray: workworkworkworkwork.  Take a look at some of their collections at http://www.mfah.org/.  And of course, Manny the Zero-G manatee was there!

Manny getting some information on Pollenators

Ms. Veiga learning about the Monarch Butterfly

Ms. Veiga meeting a new friend

SO CUTE!

Don't eat Manny!

Manny is on top of the WORLD

Mr. Gantt and Ms. Abramoff's entree at Hugos.........look closely and you will see the thorax's of GRASSHOPPERS!

DOWN THEY GO!  (don't worry, we won't be eatting these before we fly)

On Sunday we met up with Dr. Craig Wilson Director of the Future Scientists-student outreach initiative (USDA/ARS/SPA) of Texas A&M.  Not only did he drive 2 HOURS out of his way to bring our worms, but sat at breakfast with us regailing us of his adventures, stories and inspriations as an educator.  I know that every single one of the Miami Mission Control teachers appreciates his time, effort and inspiring words.  THANK YOU DR. WILSON!  Please take some time to check out his website about the corn ear worms at http://www.hsi.usda.gov/.  Dr. Wilson emailed us later that day to inform us he will be wearing our Miami Mission Control shirt the 2 days we fly proudly! 

physiological training and experiment set up

Friday, June 24th we went through physiological training and safety for our Zero-G flight..........worst case senerio's were kinda scary but Team Miami Mission Control can handle everything!  We also went through public relations sessions, met with our NASA mentor, and began setting up our experiment.   That is all day One! On Tuesday, June 28th, Thomas Gantt and Erin Abramoff will fly, float, and freefall!  Todd Doucimo and Cynthia Viega will be experiencing zero-G June 29th weather and mechanics permitting. 


Manny making his first NASA statement



The whole team waiting for physiological and safety training......We were the first group there!

Manny badged up and ready to go!

Oh yeah, we ROCK!

How the worms will be secured in ZERO-G!

Team Miami Mission Control made it to Houston,TX

The teachers of Miami Mission Control have made it to Houston,TX for the start of their amazing adventure of teaching in space. Weather is great, just like home, people are friendly, and exploring is a MUST! Our hotel is beautiful and Manny is LOVING it after the flight.

Manny checking his suitcase..........

Manny enjoying a video on the iPad

Because we are AWESOME teachers (and have Manny with us) we got a free upgrade to an SUV! 

Manny checking into the hotel

Mr. Gantt and Mrs. A goofing off at the pier

Manny eatting some chili's