Topic: STS-20: Georgia elementary school shuttle sim
hoorenz Member
Posts: 1048 From: The Netherlands Registered: Jan 2003
posted 05-03-2018 03:51 PM
Currently underway at little over 6 hours MET. Wonderful to watch. "Flight, FIDO" ... "Flight, FIDO" - "FIDO, CapCom" - "CapCom, FIDO" - "FIDO, CapCom, Flight has left the room" (Big smile and rolling eyes by little girl at FIDO console).
Watch it live and enjoy.
Joel Katzowitz Member
Posts: 895 From: Marietta GA USA Registered: Dec 1999
posted 05-04-2018 06:46 AM
Yes Erik, this program and these kids are awesome.
I was there yesterday morning for the launch. I've photographed this event for 5 years and it never gets old. The school is Russell Elementary located in Smyrna Georgia and the teacher who runs the program is Chris Laster.
I'll post some photos in a couple of days, stay tuned.
hoorenz Member
Posts: 1048 From: The Netherlands Registered: Jan 2003
posted 05-04-2018 10:38 AM
(Unidentified flight controller): "I feel a little sick, may I be excused?" Flight Director: "Affirmative" (Luckily, it was just minutes before shift handover.)
Joel Katzowitz Member
Posts: 895 From: Marietta GA USA Registered: Dec 1999
posted 05-10-2018 06:27 PM
Twenty launches and going strong. That should be this year's motto for the Russell Elementary School Shuttle simulator program. On Thursday morning (May 3), for the fifth consecutive year, I headed to the school to help document their shuttle "launch."
The program was started by and is still run by Chris Laster. The students have to volunteer to be involved with the program and it takes a lot of extra work on their part to participate. Their dedication, along with everyone else involved with the school, is obvious. My understanding is it's the only school in country with this program.
The orbiter, Intrepid, which is housed in an onsite trailer, contains a working flight deck that is amazing, as well as living quarters in the mid deck.
The mission lasts for about 28 hours and the crew sleeps in the mid deck bunks at night along with a chaperone who is also a member of the crew.
The Mission Control Center would make NASA proud. It's manned for the entire mission and accommodates all of the personnel, communications and electronics to make the mission successful.
My favorite part of the morning is the astronaut and flight controller walkout. The crew parade through the entire school with all of their civilian classmates yelling, screaming, and waving flags in support and admiration.
Here are several photos from this year's launch, enjoy.
Joel Katzowitz Member
Posts: 895 From: Marietta GA USA Registered: Dec 1999
posted 05-10-2018 06:28 PM
Joel Katzowitz Member
Posts: 895 From: Marietta GA USA Registered: Dec 1999
posted 05-10-2018 06:29 PM
hoorenz Member
Posts: 1048 From: The Netherlands Registered: Jan 2003
posted 02-22-2025 11:46 AM
Whatever happened to this wonderful initiative? Last I heard, was that "STS-22" was cancelled due to the Covid pandemic. Are there any plans to revive the program?
Joel Katzowitz Member
Posts: 895 From: Marietta GA USA Registered: Dec 1999
posted 02-23-2025 06:38 AM
WOW, talk about a blast from the past, I haven't thought about that program for years.
The last launch I covered was STS-21 on May 8, 2019. As Erik speculated, Covid 19 knocked out the next few years and I never heard back from my contact at the school. Maybe I'll reach out to the school and see if that program is still viable. It was an incredible operation.
Bob M Member
Posts: 2011 From: Atlanta-area, GA USA Registered: Aug 2000
posted 02-23-2025 10:12 AM
The scrub and a hold because of COVID has lasted a long time and hopefully the countdown can resume with a new generation/shift of flight controllers and astronauts, and Mission Control can finally get Shuttle Intrepid safely off the pad and get STS-22 underway.
I'm sure, Joel, you'll let us know if Russell Elementary School Shuttle Program Director Chris Laster is still in charge of flight operations and if there are plans to resume this very special space program (Kids In Space).
Joel Katzowitz Member
Posts: 895 From: Marietta GA USA Registered: Dec 1999
posted 02-23-2025 04:20 PM
I went to the Russell Elementary School website this morning after I saw Erik's post. I went to their "calendar" page and, unfortunately, I didn't see anything about any upcoming launches. I will take another look at the website tomorrow to see if there is any contact information for Chris Laster, but it seems pretty obvious that the program is no longer viable.
Which is really too bad, it was a great program. I've covered about 20 "real" shuttle launches and these were just as exciting!!!
posted 05-03-2018 03:51 PM
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