NASA Space Camp

On Monday the 18th September, 9 excited WHSC students and 1 AP, joined 34 students and 6 AP/Teachers from our network Secondary Colleges to embark on the adventure of a lifetime- NASA Space Camp. 

It was a non-stop, action-packed trip spanning over 10 days, totalling 6 flights, travelling to Orlando, Los Angeles and San Francisco.  

The key outcomes for travel to the USA were:  

For Students: 

• to strengthen STEM engagement for students through real life application of STEM skills. 
• to promote STEM related career possibilities for students by engaging with professionals in STEM related lines of work. 

From a curriculum perspective, intentions were: 

• to strengthen pedagogical practice in Design Thinking through STEM applications 
• to connect the teaching of STEM skills with real life application 

The program included the following: 

Kennedy Space Centre- Orlando, Florida 

Led by trained experts in the field, students participated in an Astronaut Training Experience using Virtual and Augmented Reality technology to explore life in space and how engineers and astronauts communicate through solving problems that are caused through the challenging environment. 

• As part of the program students participated in the certified ATX (Astronaut Training Experience). They had the opportunity to train as real astronauts, see and feel what it would be like to live and work on Mars and learn about the challenges of preparing for the journey to the Red Planet.  
• They experienced how astronauts train in a full motion mission simulator- Land and Drive on Mars, a virtual reality simulator, the Walk on Mars, and the Micro Gravity floor simulator. The day was all about teamwork, communication, and collaboration. The students were able to develop their skills as they guided each other through these challenges.  
• The students were taken on a guided tour of the behind the scenes at the Kennedy Space Centre and saw the rocket launch pads, Vehicle assembly building, the Apollo/Saturn V Centre and the Launch Complex 39. These areas have restricted access to the public.  
• They were further immersed into the future of space exploration at Mars Base 1, which is a prototype of Mars Base. The students were able to conduct science experiments, solve engineering challenges, use robotics, and defy gravity in a microgravity simulation. They learned how to manage emergencies and planted and harvested vegetables in a series of controlled experiments. 
• Students attended a presentation from Astronaut John Fabian and his experiences preparing for and going into space. 

Golden Gate Bridge, S.T.E.M to Stern Program- San Francisco  

Students took part in the “STEM to Stern Program” abroad the USS Hornet and were able to see how chemistry, physics and mathematics apply to the operational functions of a World War II aircraft carrier giving the students a perspective on modern technology whilst being able to make a comparison with the past.  

Students explored how: 

• thermodynamics and electromagnetism allowed the USS Hornet to use seawater to power the ship while cruising the ocean  
• waves are used to track objects and communicate on board as well as between ships and aircraft     
• Hydraulics, simple machines, wind, and the ship itself helped launch a 19,000lb jet off the flight deck.   
• pilots and sailors use vector mathematics to plot a course.   
• chemistry, physics, and mathematics contribute to the operational functions of a WWII aircraft carrier 
• science and technology have played a part throughout history  
• modern technology compares with older technology 

Students learned about the engineering of the Golden Gate Bridge which at the time of its build (1937) was the longest suspension bridge in the world. They also got to walk the 1280 metres distance of the bridge taking in the engineering architecture and surrounding vista of this historic marvel. 

Exploratorium is where the students were engaged in creative learning environments - 600 plus STEM exhibits where they had hands-on experiences, exploring Ramps and Rollers, recording data, comparing observations, and learning how small changes can lead to big differences, in how objects roll. They also were able to use light and shadow to see how shadows change shape, size and direction and they explored Balance with the use of multiple weights. 

Energy in Motion-California- Los Angeles 

Led by a Physics expert, The Knott’s Berry Farm Physics and Science program ‘Energy in Motion’provided students with the opportunity to explore a deep learning of physics connecting theory with application as studentsparticipated in a variety of experiments (AKA rides) involving rollercoasters and amusement park rides exploring Newton’s laws.  

Throughout this trip, students were exposed to a wide range of educational experiences, from space exploration simulations to understanding the physics of amusement park rides, all of which fostered critical thinking and a deeper appreciation for applied science and design thinking. 

At the conclusion of the trip, 9 very weary students (and 1 weary AP)  returned to Melbourne to reunite with family and catch up on much needed rest. A big thank you to TJ Cunningham, Zak Marinakis, Emme Jones, Yasmin Luu, Aston Hahesy, Zoe Kimber, Alex Johnson, Aaron Johnston, Tyce Corcoran – you were all amazing ambassadors for our College and I am certain that this experience will continue to hold a special place in your hearts and provide fond memories to reflect upon in the future. 

Below are some student reflections of the trip: 

The best part of San Francisco was easily when we went to Alcatraz. Going to the prison was extremely insightful and it was interesting to see the ins and outs of one of the most notorious prisons in the world. It was also really fascinating to hear about the prisoners that were held at Alcatraz, especially getting to hear some of them talk about their time and what life was like in Alcatraz during the audio guide. I would highly recommend the trip to other students who may consider going.

Zak Marinakis- Year 11  

From September 19th to the 21st, my fellow space explorers and I had the opportunity to experience a 3-day camp at the Kennedy Space Center, completely controlled and operated by NASA. On our first day at NASA, we were able to participate in the ATX Astronaut Training Experience. We experienced being an astronaut with several simulators such as the motion simulator “Land and Drive on Mars”, the virtual reality simulator “Walk on Mars” and the “Micro Gravity”

 simulator. These different simulations

 included teamwork, communication and collaboration and it was overall a really fun and enjoyable experience. On day two, we had the opportunity to visit and work in a fully immersive simulation of a prototype base on Mars. We experienced a real Mars landing, teamed up using robots, and worked in a Mars operations center. We also worked on NASA's Vegetable Project which included Planting, Harvesting and Analyzing vegetables. These different hands-on activities

 were very fun and educational. On our last day in Orlando, we spent the day at the Kennedy Space Center and took a guided bus tour. We had the opportunity to see famous launch pads and buildings. We also had an astronaut meet and greet session led by John M Fabian, a veteran astronaut, where many questions were answered about his time in space. Each day in Orlando, we stayed at the Disney All Star Music Resort, which had extremely friendly staff and a food court with many delicious dining options. Overall our entire time in Orlando was amazing, the weather was super hot, the resort was super cool and the different activities we did at NASA was a life changing experience. 

Aaron Johnston- Year 10 

In my opinion the time we spent in San Francisco was amazing and my favourite part was when we walked the Golden Gate Bridge. Walking the Golden Gate Bridge was fun and it had amazing sights the whole way. During that walk I took

 around 500 photos of the view, making a total of over 5000 photos taken throughout the trip. It was so amazing to see all the ways they made the bridge structurally sound since the length of the bridge was so long.  It was also one of the first times we were

 able to have a nice walk without having to worry about getting to the next place on time. A very close second would be Pier 39. From eating at Cold Rock, to having delicious milk shakes, to shopping for souvenirs. Pier 39 is the place to go and go we did! We went to Pier 39 twice and both times where amazing. Definitely a place I would visit if I go back again. I would highly recommend the trip to other schools and students. It was an amazing time and worth the large sum of money. I had so much fun and learnt so much.   

Alex Johnson- Year 10 

The Golden Gate bridge was the best part of San Francisco. I found the views from

 the bridge really breathtaking since I could see a lot of the coast from up high. It was also extremely fun getting to walk across the bridge, especially for me as I ended up running the whole way, although I was exhausted by the end of it, it was still great. I would recommend the whole trip to any students who are considering going. 

TJ Cunningham- Year 11 

Our first day in Los Angeles was a very busy day (like all others). The first stop of

 our LA leg of the trip was Knotts Berry Farm. Where we did a fun physics program called “Energy in Motion.” We learnt about different laws of physics and applied them when we went on the rides. A memorable roller coaster was The Silver Bullet, which involved lots of high speed and flips. Late in the afternoon we got on the bus and drove one hour into Hollywood. We got to

 see the Hollywood sign, the grand staircase of the Dolby Theatre, and the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame. In front of the Chinese Theatre were handprints of Famous actors such as the cast of The Avengers, Ryan Gosling, and the cast of Harry Potter.  

We woke up early the next day and boarded a yellow school bus to Disney Land. We spent the entire day at Disneyland and got to see the castle, go on rides, and watch the fireworks. Today required lots of time management, as we needed to send check ins to our teacher every 3 hours. It was a very long day, and we finally got back to the hotel at 11pm. 

We began our third day by going to Universal Studios. Upon arrival we boarded a

 tram which took us on a tour of the Universal Studios backlots and movie sets. We got to see where many famous movies were shot, including Marvel movies, Jaws, Jurassic and even Taylor Swift’s music video. This experience was incredibly unique as some parts involved 4D effects, weather effects, and fire effects. We then went on many fun rides such as the Jurassic Park ride and the Harry Potter ride. We then ended the day by flying to San Fransisco.  

Yasmin Luu – Year 10 

Emme Jones – Year 10 

Judy Anderson 

Assistant Principal