Today started off interesting! =]
Wake up call was at 6:00 am way to early, we started getting ready at it comes around about 7:15 when jenny is suppose to be picking us up! Well i walk downstairs and wait with Jenny on Nicole and Munoz, welllllll Munoz calls Jenny and is flipping out she has misplaced her badge that gets you in everywhere!!?? So we search and can't find it so we are delayed now, but its all good Jenny got her a replacement untill she found hers which we were pretty sure she left it at Olive garden where we attended dinner!
But, to go to our next thing in the day we first met with Josh- Head of (sems) Flight director he was kinda the boss, he and his board were in control over throwing failures and mistakes at the (sem crew) to see how they react and how they manage, so they can have practice for when they really do take off. Considering some of these failures could possible take place. We were soon introduced to Heidi who was very work oriented she was devoted to doing her job right she flew on the STS-126, which Munoz actually saw launch which was exciting for her. But Heidi was a mission specialist who also knew about the robotic arm and how to work it and then when she flew a second time she became kind of the boss over the shuttle. Next, we met Michelle wow what some encouraging info she gave us, she told us to don't be so stuck on something that you don't allow oppertunties to open for you, doors will present themselves to you and you will have choices to make and a lot of times they are very very very difficult choices. But, don't think there is nothing out there for you just consider what is presenting itself to you. Make sure thats what you want to do or pursue. Up next on the list was Ginger! WOWWW she first started out with her Masters and one year experience because she really wanted to be an astronaut so she applied and she knew some people and they told her they wanted to interview her so she made it to the top 112 or whatever made it and she went through the interviews and the 4 hour psychology test and other long duration tests, well then she contiuned on to the body physical tests well they were doing and X-ray and the doctor says "hmmpp" and she says what? and so they send her to the doctor to get cat scan and of course she has to wait for a 24 hour result so she is flipping out they get the results and the doctor says you have kidney stones which disqualifies you from being a astronaut for a lifetime. So she went home and cried her eyes out cause that was her dream job that was thrown down because she has medical problems. So later that week one of the guys from some of the interviews said hey you know we really like you come and apply for a job so she did and she ended up being a cap com the first one without being an astronaut first, after sitting beside a flight director for 4 years she decided she wanted to do that position so she went to her boss and said hey listen i really think that i could do this job ! and he said okay lets try it out so she did and she did an amazing job so she got the job and ended up being the 1st hispanic flight director. Which the rank of a (FD) are very high they have the highest power overall they can even rule out the president. But, any way Ginger went on to say that she loves her job so much and she really wouldn't trade it and its because of those bumps in the rode, is how it got her where she is, and to always look/ and be confident just even if you may not feel confident on the inside show it on the outside, because people can tell you when have confidence. After meeting Ginger who was super nice we went to the Taste lab! =] Where we met another Michelle who was a nutritionist and who helped prepare, dehydrate and select the food for the astronauts depending on their prefrences. Then Kimberly who was a food scientist she taught us about how the foods are dried, how they are kept in space, how space is limited in space haha so things were made to be small for tighter areas, and how they are working on creating foods that won't expire for when they do missions to mars and the food has to last 2-5 years. Then we had the test ourselves
1st we had hot cocoa -which actually wasn't that bad.
2nd we had the peach-apricot drink -really good !!!
3rd we had the orange-mango drink that was yummy also i liked all the drinks as well as the other girls did.
then we started to the foods,
4th we had chicken noodle soup-which was really bland and needed salt and more seasoning.
Which they told us they try to keep the salt intake to a low because they have hard time exercising in space so they need a good diet which they also told us that the Russians didn't really take as much of a care into the food so their food was really salty and seasoned so the astronauts would take the cosmonauts food.
5th we trued the Lasagna w/ meat sauce -which was okay i mean it need some like garlic bread and melted cheese haha!
6th -Spicy green beans ! HAHAHA funny story okay let me let you in on a funny story okay Munoz has never NEVER eaten anything green any vegetable any fruit nothing, so today we get to the greens and she's like no thank you and Michelle is like you have to and then we start chanting Munoz Munoz Munoz and she's like flipping out and Omg, i can't do it ! it was great hilarious she was like but, I always said i would do anything for nasa so she ate it and we were all proud of her but, it was to funny, we caught it on tape to so you will enjoy! =]
After taste test lab we went to lunch where they had a Flight surgeon and an Astrobiologist to talk to me and nicole how amazing it was to talk to Shannon the flight surgeon, someone who's career I'm actually considering, what an encouragment. She told me how long it took her, what the goods/bads are, some of the missions they have been doing, what they really do , and how it works. Then I met Kathie the Astrobiologists which she was totally interesting and cool, we met Sarah who trained astronauts and worked in something to do with (MCC). The there was Janelle who was the student program specialist!
Then we headed to the NBL - which was totally cool we got an cool tour from Michael and then Phillip took over he took us up to the active test control rooms where we saw dotty underwater practicing for her missions, and for future purposes.
Then we went on deck and looked around he showed us the mock-ups they use for practice and the different things they do.
It was very interesting the Dimensions of the pool were 101 ft by 202 ft and 40 ft deep! wow thats crazy big.
At around 3 o'clock the astronauts came out of training and where undressing from their space suits and we met up with Dotty and we met Garrett which was really cool we got to see them in the Undies/ Diaper things it was hilarious.
Then after all that excitement we went to space center Houston which was awesome we walked around and touched a rock that came from the moon! =] did a little simulator which i accomplished so did Munoz ! =] Nicole didn't try it but, then we went to the gift shop. Oh yeah! :) I bought some more stuff that i probably didn't need but when are you ever in the nasa johnson space center forreal! =] But, what an amazing day we have more excitements and surprises for us in store tomorrow! =]
I can't wait to see what it has to bring, but also very depressed tomorrow is our last day for the best week of my life! :D
As for now !
Peace - Ciara (space lover)
BTWWW JENNY FOUND MUNOZ BADGE SHE DID LEAVE IT AT OLIVE GARDEN! =D
Sounds like a super amazing day. I bet you were totally ready for by the end of it!
Dang girl! It sure sounds like you are having tons of fun! Also super busy! lol (btw from your day too blog you do know those potty pics are prob gonna be used as blackmail on your wedding or graduation day. Just giving you a heads up. I know your mom and she won't hesitate lol) See ya when you get back! Can't wait to hear about it some more!!!
<3 K-May!