So little time so much to write...so here is the plan to share

Well, the Sun Earth Day NASA Tweetup is over...sort of.  I have tried very hard over the past 36 hours or so to organize my thoughts around how best to share my experience at Goddard Spaceflight Center.


A few quick things come to mind.  First is sharing will take place over multiple postings. Second, the amount information to be shared is massive. I will need to fact check a lot of items. Tweeting (on multiple devices), taking pictures, shooting video, and trying to listen, learn, and ask questions can lead to many bad things. Such as inaccurate numbers, misquoting a presenters comments, or confusing facts from multiple presentations.


I also want to present some themes and ideas that come to mind right now:

• History. Believe it or not, history plays a key role on how we got to where we are today in Earth and space science. I think it is definitely worth exploring this as a topic.
• The importance of education in all subjects, not just math, science, and engineering, but in  English, history, and geography. I want to discuss why being good at math and science is only one part of being a great scientist or engineer.
• The role public outreach (i.e. - Twitter, Facebook, Tweetups, Twitter & web Chats, Foursquare & Gowalla, Flickr groups, video programing like NASA Edge, NASA TV, YouTube and HATCAM, bogging, podcasting, and live chat via Skype and Talkshoe) is critical to making the connections and starting the conversations. These are powerful and far reaching tools and concepts.
• For example (this has not fact checked) it was said that the Sun Earth Day Tweetup had hit over 3.5 million "impressions" by the end of the live NASA Edge broadcast....we still had half the day to keep the connections growing!!! (A media impression is: the number of people who may have seen an article, heard something on the radio or in a podcast, watched something on television, or read something on a web page or blog - according to http://www.marketing-metrics-made-simple.com.) This means we "impressed" 3.5 million people one time each or maybe we "impressed" 350,000 people 10 times each. Whether you agree with this definition or not, 3.5 million is a sizable number and it shows we were having a significant impact to a large audience.
• I also feel its important and interesting discuss past, present, and future Sun, Earth, and Planetary science missions.  I hope this will lead you to explore and discover some of the great NASA missions. I also want to look at Goddard's important role in developing, managing, and planning these missions.
• You can expect a post on women in science, technology, and engineering. I was surprised and pleased at the number of bright, talented, and enthusiastic women I met at the Sun Earth Day Tweetup. This list includes presenters, coordinators, volunteers, and those in the tweetup group as well.  We had teachers, science enthusiasts, and self-professed space geeks in this group, many of whom were women. I don't care if you are a man or woman, I think we need to best and the brightest working at NASA. And I don't want the young women of today to thinking that space, science, or even NASA is a not a welcome profession. I know it is much better today than it was 20 years ago and there are many women entering and succeeding this these fields of work, but that fact that we still having the conversation means there is some work to be done. As a disclaimer I know a post like this may ruffle some feathers but it is meant as nothing more than a positive observation of the people I met at the Tweetup.
• Finally, I want to share with you how this event has changed me.  With the focus on the youth of today (the next generation of scientists and engineers) I feel its important to look at the role someone like me plays in this focus. I also think its important to evaluate yourself when you have an experience that you think changes something about you, your values, your goals, and ideas. I'm not talking about just upending your life, I'm talking about seeing opportunities, evaluating them, and maybe, if the analysis justifies it, you can "fire your thrusters" and nudge that personal spacecraft of life into another direction. These can be short burns to slightly alter direction or speed or they can be major maneuvers that change the entire mission. Either way I want to explore what type of burn I need, I'm comfortable saying that it is going to be a small one, just enough to change direction over the long run. Not enough to upset the balance with my family or my obligation to them, but enough of a course correction to re-task the long term mission.

Well, that's a lot for me to get out in this post. But I feel I have some direction. I hope these are topics and conversations that you will share and enjoy. Maybe you will even take part in the debate, adding to the body of ideas and moving them forward to another level. Many of the themes will be over multiple postings so there will be opportunities to influence, engage, and inspire the direction and outcome of the conversations.

I can't wait to start this adventure of exploration and discovery. What about you?

Aaron

As a most unbelievable day ends I have a few thoughts...

Update to original. I had a few facts wrong. Working to sort out my notes and get some questions answered. Sorry about that. It's 30 G's not 35 G's and I need to get the rights temps instead of really really cold.

Today was filled with:

Cleans rooms where they prep satellites and spacecraft. Have you ever hear of the Hubble Space Telescope, Solar Dynamics Observatory, The Stereo mission, or the James Webs Space Telescope? They all spent time in the Goddard Spaceflight Center clean room.

We also saw a centrifuge that can test space flight hardware up to 30 G's. Wait until you see these pics!!!! It was HUGE. Goddard has to call the power company before they turn it on so they don't cause a brown out!

A "space environment simulator" which makes things very very very cold.

We walked into the actual acoustical chamber they use to subject satellites and other spacecraft to the sounds they will experience at launch time. Just a quick fact about the sound of a launch. Stand too close to a Space Shuttle launch and the sound (not the flames) will KILL you. Yes....sound!

Spacecraft are delicate precisely manufactured science platforms. But to get to the vacuum of space, they need to ride a rocket...it is neither quiet nor smooth. This is why the engineers and scientists at Goddard Spaceflight Center put these engineering marvels through the "shake and bake" process. More to come on this process in a future post.

We saw one of the MOC's (Mission Operations Center) where they fly Landsat 7 and Aura. All the control, commands, and communications are done in the ops centers.

We saw the NASA Center for Climate Simulation...this is a bunch of really smart above, average people with huge banks of computers doing weather modeling. Why spend money on that? Better models means better prediction, which means a better things for us and the planet. There are some pics you will have to see.

We got up close and personal with a Hubble mock up section. A) it was huge, B) it was only 1/3 of the whole telescope, & C) Astronauts have used it to train for the Hubble servicing missions.

We had with a great discussion with Michelle Thaller (I'm checking her last name) Director of Science at NASA Goddard. The pics from the Science on a Sphere classroom are mind blowing visuals. And information about our Sun and Solar System is almost unbelievable. In here I learned the Sun is an out of control explosion that is too big to explode. Stop here and think about that.

We wrapped up our day of inspiration and information which we will use to spread the word and pay it forward as new Ambassadors of NASA and space science. Our day ended at the Laser Ranging Facility where we learned about why we bounce lasers of satellites and why it's important to know exactly (I mean exactly, like within centimeters & millimeters) where the spacecraft is. They are also shooting beams at LRO which is orbiting the Moon as you read this using it's own laser pointed down at the Moon to precisely map the surface. Bottom line, it was a great facility and a really cool laser show!

Please bookmark this blog and return often. It will take weeks to share what I have learned. There are some great pictures and video too. But you have to share this knowledge, pass along this blog to others. Be a part of the inspiration of your kids, your friends kids, and even the big kids inside ourselves.

I also need you to take the time to visit the NASA websites, Facebook pages, and follow along...in fact JOIN the conversation, on Twitter. I'm serious about the Twitter thing, you may even converse with a real Astronaut, Planetary scientist, or one of the outreach folks from NASA (who work hard to provide activities, information, and connections all of us) to become better educated on the NASA missions. I can 100% say I have done each on of these and it was...well just do it you will understand then.

Aaron


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Last stop on the Goddard Spaceflight Center Tour

WOW...I have a lot to share over the next few days. It will take that long to absorb and organize what we have learned. I have been inspired, I know you will be too! Be sure to follow this blog, Facebook, and Twitter for updates.

Aaron


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Done at National Air & Space Museum heading back to GSFC

Great day at NASM in Washington DC. We saw the IMAX 3D show of the Sun. Take the time to read about the Stereo satellites that made that movie possible. The photos are compelling and awe inspiring.

The Sun's impact on our atmosphere, the Earth's magnetism, and on our space hardware is undeniable. One massive coronal mass ejection (CME) can alter radio, GPS, and the power grid.

That makes you want to learn more doesn't it?

Check out the work they are doing at Goddard Spaceflight Center for more info.

Aaron


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

The night before...

We are settled into our hotel after a smooth trip from New Hampshire ( thank you Southwest Air).

All devices are being charged, cameras are packed, and devices are plugged in everywhere!

So, I'm ready! And just in case I forget (tomorrow is going to be a crazy exciting day) a big THANK YOU to NASA. It's a privilege to have this opportunity to learn more about the Sun (which based on my prior post is truly lacking) and to see first hand the efforts of all the engineers, scientists, employees of Goddard Spaceflight Center. The project list is huge (don't believe me? Go check out Goddard's website). There is real Earth, Space, and Sun science going on everyday (ever hear of the Hubble Space Telescope or see the pictures taken by SDO or did you hear about MESSENGER...it's in orbit around Mercury right now).

These tweetups are not just for the attendees in person. NASA does it so it's an interactive experience for those online. There will be tweets, Facebook updates, even a live broadcast by the NASA Edge team. Please join me and the other attendees of the Sun Earth Day NASA Tweetup online for a day of learning and inspiration. Check out my Highs and Lows post. Try to answer those questions. I really want to find out the answers, I hope you will to. If you do, join us tomorrow. Bring your kids (of all ages) to a computer or mobile device and see what fantastic things we can learn about together. All the attendees know that we are ambassadors of the event and will try our best to bring it to you in real time with the highest quality content.

Thanks for reading and I hope to "see" you at the tweetup.

Aaron

Note: I think Joel Glick will be wearing his Hat Cam. You can follow him on Twitter, use the hash tag #hatcam for a personal point of view (it's very cool, you should check it out anyway). You can also find this live feed on JustinTV if he is able to broadcast.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Sun Earth Day 2011 - NASA Tweetup Info

I just wanted to do a quick post of links for Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and YouTube. I will add to this post new links as I get them.

I will also try to post blog entries during the tweetup. I'm not sure how this will work out since I will be trying it with a mobile app on my iPad.

Aaron

Twitter feeds to follow:

• My Twitter Feed @adcunningham
• @NASA
• @NASA_SDO
• @SunEarthDay
• National Air & Space Museum Twitter feed @airandspace
• Trust me you should follow this crazy chicken @Camilla_SDO
• Goddard Spaceflight Center Twitter feed @NASAGoddard
• @NASA_EDGE Twitter Feed they will be doing a live broadcast
• Sun Earth Day Tweetup Attendee List

Twitter hash tags to follow:

• #SED2011
• #NASATweetup
• #SEDSCI
• #SEDPEOPLE
• #SEDTWEEPS
• #GSFC

Web links, YouTube, Flickr:

• Flickr Group Page for SunEarthDay2011
• My Flickr Stream - adcunningham
• NASA HQ Photo Flickr Stream
• NASA Sun Earth Day Website
• My YouTube Page


• NASA Edge - Live Broadcast site

Facebook Pages:

• Camilla SDO


• SunEarthDay


• NASA Goddard Spaceflight Center


• NASA


• NASA Little SDO


• NASA Edge

Highs and Lows: The tale of a NASA Tweetup e-mail

I logged onto my personal e-mail on Tuesday and saw a message from Aleya, this weekend's "Sun Earth Day Tweetup Wrangler."  I of course opened it with the excitement of a 5 year old on Christmas morning and started to read.

The message starts out with "Sun Earth Day is rapidly approaching; I hope all plans are going smoothly. We have two things for you to do in preparation for your day."  Preparation? OK, I have been to a NASA Tweetup this should be easy. I know my NASA stuff...not a problem.

The e-mail continues with "The first is a survey." Huh! That's simple. I fill out surveys all the time, I love sharing my opinion! (There's a surprise for you...me with an opinion.) The note further explains why NASA wants to gather this data and confirms the data gatherer is "OK." They have "checked her out and approve." Excellent, but I trust Aleya and the NASA Tweetup crew. If they want me to do a survey, I will do it.

The paragraph continues with "Please complete this pre-event questionnaire. Please be honest in your answers, and do not Google anything! (Honor system!!)" WHAT? It's a questionnaire now? OK, stay calm, you know your NASA stuff I tell myself.  Then I read the last line again. Do not Google? Honor system? This interesting, why would I need Google? Why are we on the honor system? (Pause here to ponder these two statements.)

I click the link (now you should hear a menacing clicking sound in your mind, just like I did) to see what type of questions await me.

The window pops open showing me the first few questions...relief sets in. Name, age, zip code...all standard demographic info and most importantly, they are easy to answer.  Then a few questions about my tweeting, hobbies, and use of NASA content. No problem! My fingers fly across the keyboard (OK, to be honest, they don't really fly...I hunt and peck with 2, sometimes 3 fingers. Typing is not a skill I possess.) I was up (getting the e-mail), then down (a questionnaire or "test"?), and now I'm up (easy questions). This is crazy, letting an e-mail take me for a ride on an emotional roller coaster. (OK, your right, that last statement was a little dramatic. But you get the point.)

Why would anyone need Google to look up these answers? I scroll down to the next set of questions.

Question 1 - Name the NASA Centers - OK, I can see why some people may need to Google this. But not me. I start typing without thinking: Ames, JPL, Langley, KSC, Marshall, Stennis, Glenn, JSC, Dryden, of course Goddard...and then I stop. My brain freezes. There's more, but I'm drawing a blank. Panic sets in, I know my NASA stuff, I should be able to do this. Is this stage fright? I tell myself to calm down. Breath. Am I freaking out because my fingers stopped typing or is my mind playing tricks because it knows I can't use Google?  Either way, my fingers are on strike.  There will be no more letters spelling out the names of NASA Centers for this question.  Why is this happening to me? Time to regroup and move on to question 2; I will come back to this question later. So I clear my head and scroll down.

Question 2 - Describe at least three projects from Goddard - Easy...this is the Sun Earth Day Tweetup.  SDO is first on my list. Then SOHO...another easy one SOHO has solar and helio in its name. Then I type HST…Hubble Space Telescope...now I'm on a roll. But, it happens again...stage fright? Nervousness? Or do I really not know my NASA stuff? CRAP! Think! At this point my fingers are refusing to work and my brain is saying "_____ (insert expletive here) you, you don't know this stuff” (sadly this is the battle I do with my thoughts sometimes). I tell myself, relax this is not a test, it's just a few questions to see what the group knows and doesn't know so NASA can make the most out of the tweetup (my brain laughs at me and says you know that’s a BS line…I have to agree, I’m trying to fool myself, this is a test of sorts). Think! Think! Think! Yes, Operation Ice Bridge….another one down. Now we are back to listing Goddard projects! Next…OK fingers, brain...I said next. Hello? Next project please. Nothing. CRAP! What do I do? Should I quit? Bow out of the tweetup? Let someone who is more knowledgeable than me attend? I can't do that. I'm not a quitter...nor am I a cheater. No Google, no quitting. Next question.

Question 3 - Name at least three space scientists or ... - That's it. We’re done. Cooked! There is more to this question, but I'm embarrassed to admit, I can't name a single space scientist, not without Google at least. I know Space Shuttles, Apollo missions, the astronauts, the ISS, even some of the planetary missions (like MESSENGER which is about to orbit Mercury, the Mars rovers, Voyager, New Horizons, Mariner, etc...). But I don't know the people behind these projects...the scientists, engineers, and astronomers that make these missions possible. I'm really disappointed in myself. Moving on to the next question.

Question 4 - Describe the Sun - Easy! Center of our solar system, closest star, a giant ball of burning hydrogen. Then it happens again, my fingers stop the alphabet dance. What else do I know about the Sun? Is that really it? Why do I know so little? I studied in school. Have I lost some knowledge on my journey through life? Crap this is not looking good...next question please.

Question 5 - Describe the Sun's impact on Earth - OK this is easy. The Sun is a critical provider of light energy. This light, a by-product of nuclear fusion, make things like photosynthesis possible. It also impacts our weather, the seasons, and even our emotions (come on, who is not happier on a bright, warm, sunny day). Is that it? Nope. I know there is a more detailed, educated, response...but it’s not coming from me today. _____ (insert another expletive here) Next!

Question 6 - Describe what one past civilization that has used technology to understand the Sun and the Universe - Easy? Nope. I'm done. I can't think of one. Aztecs, Mayans, Greeks, the Egyptians all pop into my head, but the one that used technology to understand the Sun? Nothing, blank, empty. OK it's time to be honest with myself.  I just don't have the knowledge I should have about the Sun, its impact on us, its history, or the people that have studied it, both past and present.

There are a few more questions that I go on to answer with the same crappy results.  More blank space than words describing answers.  Let's just say I’m at the low point of this whole e-mail.  I'm really bothered that I could not bang out these answers without the help of Google.  Maybe it's time to "go back to school" and re-learn what it appears I have forgotten.

I could just leave my mind and heart at this level of disappointment but that's not me. I think I will take this new found revelation (that is my lack of knowledge) and go learn something (that's an interesting idea huh?). One of NASA's big initiatives today is stimulating interest in science, math, engineering, and technology and I understand why they want to do that. We are a civilization of explorers, seekers of knowledge, a form of life that searches for and overcomes challenges. I lack (or lost some) of my knowledge and skills along the path of life, but that does not mean I can’t participate. I can and I will! (Insert mood improvement here.)

By becoming more educated myself (and remember you are never too old to learn, don't feel like this stuff is just for the youth) I can help move forward NASA's goal of engaging the next generation of scientists, engineers, and dreamers of the future. I will get the opportunity to learn (or re-learn in some cases) something about NASA's science missions on March 19th, 2011 at the Sun Earth Day NASA Tweetup. And the best part of all is I can tweet (also known as - educate, collaborate, share knowledge, and inspire others) while I’m learning myself. I can't wait!

Look for my tweets at: www.twitter.com/adcunningham

And be sure to check back here for more posts over the weekend. I will be trying a mobile iPad App to post quick and dirty reports about the tweetup.

Thanks,

AC