Lewes Ferry

Heading home.  We took the Lewes Ferry from Lewes, Delaware to Cape May, New Jersey.  Tried to find a whale or a dolphin but they must be resting somewhere warm.  Saw a lot of sea gulls!  Enjoy the view. 

Splashdown!

Orion splashed down off the coast of the Baha Pennisula in California.  NASA has achieved a major milestones towards Mars in 2020!

Crew Module Separation

The Orion Crew Module has seperated successfully at 39 miles above the Earth. Splashdown in just under an hour!

View of Earth from Orion

   Orion Crew Module Separation

 

Mission Control the map on the screen shows the location of Orion throughout its 2.5 orbit journey through space.  

Orion Lifts Off!

Today at 7:05AM Orion had a successful lift off from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Center.  My family and I watch the launch along with NASA Langley Engineers and Scientists.  It was incredible to witness history with the people instrumental in the creation of Orion.  The heat shield will be transported back to NASA Langley to be studied for the next flight. NASA hopes to send the first astronauts to Mars in 2020!  Can you believe astronauts will take their first steps on another planet in our lifetime?  I can't wait to share everything I learned with you next week!! 

 

Launch Aborted

Well the Orion Launch was aborted today.  We are going to take a tour of the Virginia Air and Space Museum.  Fingers crossed for tomorrow's rescheduled launch!

Still Waiting

4th times a charm!  The Orion Launch has been aborted three this morning.  The first time for a rogue boat, second time for ground winds and the third time for three open oxygen and gas tank valves.  Fingers crossed for launch in the next fifteen minutes or it will be moved to Friday.  In the meantime the Elf on a Shelf has been taking magic pictures!  

GO ORION!!!

Live from the Virginia Air and Space Museum with NASA Langley to watch the 

Orion Spacecraft launch.  History in the making.  Feel very lucky to be part of this incredible milestone for NASA! 

Elf Meets NASA

Our Elf on a Shelf was found at NASA Langley! Check out his adventures!!! 

Asteroid Lab

NASA Langley is in the running to develop a control system to capture a 10mm Boulder from an asteroid.  Fingers crossed they are chose on December 16th!

Lunar Landing Research Facility

Astronauts practice landings from the gantry 150 feet high. Most lunar landing simulations took place at night with low level light to simulate the craters on the moon.  

The Crash Impact Facility simulates different impact scenarios.  Aircrafts can be rigged up to simulate controlled crashes. Information acquired through these tests helps engineers make necessary changes to keep people safe. The military recently used this facility to test their black hawk helicopters.

Initially, in 2008 NASA planned to have Orion have a land landing.  Airbag testing took place to test the center of gravity of the capsule. 

A Hydro Impact Basin has been added to simulate water landings for Orion.  The capsule must be thrown from the gantry 

to simulate splash testing.  The water level in the HIB decreases by 2 inches with each impact test. Practice to recover Orion took place at this facility. Langley tested the boiler plate to determine the pressure on the exterior of the capsule from different angles. Water and wind impact were also tested to determine the best angle to enter the ocean.

Richard Petty donated a car for a soft wall impact too! 

Noise Reduction

Any type of flight that creates a super sonic boom is not permitted over the United States.  This Noise Reduction Center researches ways to lessen aeronautic noise. 

I Made It!

I made it to Langley!!!

On My Way!

Up bright and early heading to NASA Langley!  Can't wait to share my adventure with you all!

Following the Rain

It takes 7 hours to drive from Paramus, New Jersey to Newport News, Virginia.  Mother Nature is keeping the ride interesting.  Following the rain all the way down I-95 South.  

NASA Langley or Bust!

On my way to NASA Social at NASA Langley!  So excited for this adventure to begin! Make sure to check in tomorrow for live pictures from NASA!!!

THANK YOU WEATHERBOY!!!

 

     Today we received our Weatherboy Yardstick Prize Pack!  We are so excited to measure the weather together!  You can follow our weather reports at the links below.

 Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
 

Facebook: facebook.com/theWeatherboy
Twitter: twitter.com/theWeatherboy
Pinterest: pinterest.com/theWeatherboy

 

 

 

Winter Storm Cato

Meet Cato the Snow Turkey! 

We had lots of fun measuring the snow today.  Can't wait to see if this early snow will be a sign of a stormy winter.  Well our class will be ready.  Weatherboy Weather just posted the winners and our class was chosen as Northern NJ Weather Trackers!  So excited to receive our "official" Weatherboy Snow Yardsticks!  Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!  

Thanksgiving Snow!

We are actively tracking the weather for our area tomorrow.  On Sunday our part of the state was not predicted to receive any snow.  Today the weather reports predict we will receive anywhere from 3-10 inches of snow starting Wednesday into Thursday.  We will keep you posted!  Breaking out our Bedazzled Ruler to measure the snow early this year. Hoping to build a Snow Turkey!!!
Wishing you all a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

Paramus High School Teacher is 1 of 150 Selected to Attend NASASocial

Paramus High School Teacher is 1 of 150 Selected to Attend NASASocial,

December 3-4, 2014

NASA Twitter Followers Will Tweet Orion EFT-1’s Initial Flight

PARAMUS, NJ– To infinity and beyond!  Connecting space travel to the next frontier Tracy Glock, a Life Skills Education and Achievement Program Teacher at Paramus High School, has been chosen as part of a select group of participants to attend the initial flight of the Orion Spacecraft at the Langley Research Center in Hamilton, Virginia on December 3^rd and 4^th.  Tracy Glock was invited to participate in NASA Social, a program that provides opportunities for NASA's social media followers to learn and share information about NASA's missions, people, programs and discoveries.

NASA Social is the next evolution in the agency's social media efforts. The program includes both special in-person events and social media credentials for individuals who share news in a significant way. Over 3,000 applicants applied to participate, with only 150 chosen to receive clearance and credentials.

To be chosen, Glock had to meet specific social media engagement criteria, and as a result of being selected, she will have the same credentials and access to the event as news media, will get behind-the-scenes access to NASA's first field center and a briefing on Orion's first flight test. Langley's massive Landing and Impact Research Facility and Hydro Impact Basin will be showcased. In the 1960s, this is where Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin learned how to land on the moon. Guests will also tour Langley Labs, where NASA is evaluating asteroid grappling, developing lunar habitat technologies and testing an Orion mockup. On Dec. 4, participants will be offered a special opportunity to watch Orion's launch and splashdown at the nearby Virginia Air & Space Center, NASA’s official visitor center.

NASA's Orion spacecraft is built to take humans farther than they've ever gone before. More powerful than any rocket ever built, it will be capable of sending humans to deep space destinations such as an asteroid and eventually Mars. Orion will serve as the exploration vehicle that will carry the crew to space, provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel, and provide safe  re-entry from deep space.

Orion will launch atop a Delta IV Heavy rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Space Launch Complex.  Concluding a two-orbit, four-hour flight that will test many of the systems most critical to safety Orion will splashdown at the nearby Virginia Air & Space Center.

Tracy Glock will be documenting the events leading up to the launch and the launch itself over the course of two days on December 3 and December 4, utilizing social media.  Twitter followers experience this historic launch using #Orion or by following her tweets @TicTockMrsGlock

 

Weatherboy Weather Please Pick Our Class!!!

Weatherboy Weather will choose three public school teacher/class to receive a box of 20 Weatherboy yardsticks for the upcoming snow season.  Knowing our passion for weather tracking we are hoping to be chosen to be Weatherboy Weather Correspondents!  Please nominate our class on Twitter @theWeatherboy or on Facebook at Weatherboy Weather.  We hope to continue "Tracking Weather Together!"

Orion Launch

PARAMUS, NJ – To infinity and beyond!  Connecting space travel to the next frontier Tracy Glock, a Life Skills Education and Achievement Program Teacher at Paramus High School, has been chosen as part of a select group of participants to attend the initial flight of the Orion Spacecraft at the Langley Research Center in Hamilton, Virginia on December 3^rd and 4^th.  Tracy Glock was invited to participate in NASA Social, a program that provides opportunities for NASA's social media followers to learn and share information about NASA's missions, people, programs and discoveries.

NASA Social is the next evolution in the agency's social media efforts. The program includes both special in-person events and social media credentials for individuals who share news in a significant way. Over 3,000 applicants applied to participate, with only 150 chosen to receive clearance and credentials.

To be chosen, Mrs. Glock had to meet specific social media engagement criteria, and as a result of being selected, she will have the same credentials and access to the event as news media, will get behind-the-scenes access to NASA's first field center and a briefing on Orion's first flight test. Langley's massive Landing and Impact Research Facility and Hydro Impact Basin will be showcased. In the 1960s, this is where Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin learned how to land on the moon. Guests will also tour Langley labs, where NASA is evaluating asteroid grappling, developing lunar habitat technologies and testing an Orion mockup. On Dec. 4, participants will be offered a special opportunity to watch Orion's launch and splashdown at the nearby Virginia Air & Space Center, NASA’s official visitor center.

NASA's Orion spacecraft is built to take humans farther than they've ever gone before. More powerful than any rocket ever built, it will be capable of sending humans to deep space destinations such as an asteroid and eventually Mars. Orion will serve as the exploration vehicle that will carry the crew to space, provide emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during the space travel, and provide safe  re-entry from deep space.

Orion will launch atop a Delta IV Heavy rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Space Launch Complex.  Concluding a two-orbit, four-hour flight that will test many of the systems most critical to safety Orion will splashdown at the nearby Virginia Air & Space Center.

Mrs. Glock will be documenting the events leading up to the launch and the launch itself over the course of two days on December 3 and December 4, utilizing social media.  Twitter followers experience this historic launch using #Orion or by following her tweets @TicTockMrsGlock