Training Manual Format s5

Living in Space Object Cart

Brief Summary

The Living in Space Object cart provides visitors with the opportunity to explore real objects related to human space exploration, in particular objects related to the Living in Space play.

Main Teaching Points

 Space is an environment of extremes, and humans need special clothing, shelter and tools to survive in space.  Microgravity (as experienced on the space shuttle, ISS, or future space stations) presents logistical challenges for living and working in space.  Microgravity has significant physiological effects, which are monitored.  Issues of storage space and weight determine what gets used in space.  Because of these issues the interior of a space station or space shuttle is very different from your average living room.

Set Up

 Get cart from backstage  Unlock bottom cupboard.  Get out objects, put them on top of cart or on lower shelf

Suggested ways of presenting touch cart /Operating Tips

 After the play, set up the cart in the stage area.  Point out interesting things on the stage set.  If things get busy, you may choose to put out fewer items on the touch cart  If you are facing challenges with visitors handling yellow touch items, you can keep them out of reach on the shelf, and bring them out only when you feel comfortable using them.

Object Descriptions (see final pages)

Questions and Answers

Where did the Museum get this stuff? The original items are surplus or used items from NASA. NASA gave these items to the Museum to be used for education. The replicas were purchased from a company that makes realistic copies of space items for museums and movies.

Other Cool Stuff to Try/Fast Facts

When you are working the object cart, you can also point out some of the features on the Living in Space set that address microgravity and space/storage:

 Look for all of the storage bins, note that things are color-coded  The tray that pulls out and becomes a table  Things can be oriented different ways  The exercise bicycle  Painting of a space suit outside  H20 (look for bins/doors, can push the big bag back in easily)  Alex's workstation, can be oriented either way  Faucet with hot and cold running water  Medical equipment

Background materials (websites, videos, articles, digital collections links)

See list under Living in Space Play. Self assessment suggestions

After working with the LIVING IN SPACE OBJECT CART several times, complete the checklist and rubric below by highlighting the box that best describes your performance. Have your team leader observe your demo then complete an identical rubric. Discuss your presentation technique with your team leader along the lines of the rubric.

Assessment for LIVING IN SPACE CARTS DATE____ PRESENETER______

A. Checklist of Requisite Skills Can get out cart from its storage place and return it later. Knows and applies the Museum Handling Level (objects coded red, blue, yellow, or green.) Can use computer to enhance the visitors' interactions with objects.

B. Rubric for LIVING IN SPACE OBJECT CART QUALITY LEVELS OK EXCELLENT  TRAITS  Approachability Open, smiling and friendly in Invites visitors to cart; suggests manner. Makes eye contact how cool the objects are. with visitor and greets them. Warms up the visitors with individualized questions such as where they are from and are they enjoying themselves today. Enthusiasm and fun Conveys enjoyment of Can related the information working with objects and about the objects in story format visitors. or other personalized way. Responsiveness to Courteous and aware of A good reader of visitor body visitors visitor wishes language, knowing for example, when visitor is confused or rushed, or has another question. Asks visitor comfort questions, not just content questions. Knowledge of subject Explains the objects clearly Works the objects into a without being a "know it all"; conversation with visitor. asks visitors to guess or Though knowledgeable, may speculate. postpone giving answer to give visitor opportunity to discover. Brings in enrichment material collected by browsing the NASA web resources provided. Relates objects to their use (or possible use in the scenario of) the play. Object Descriptions

All of the items on the touch cart are objects or replicas of objects that have been used in space missions from 1960-the present.

OBJECT CAT # HANDLING REMARKS CODE Space Shuttle PS-0107 Green- Replica; made by Global Effects, based on actual NASA EMU Glove OK to touch specimens Green Touch: Please use cotton glove before trying on EMU stands for "Extravehicular Manned Unit"--i.e., for astronauts working outside spacecraft Space Shuttle PS-0108 Green- Replica; made by Global Effects, based on actual NASA EMU Boot OK to touch specimens Green Touch: Please do not try on (stinky feet) EMU stands for "Extravehicular Manned Unit"--i.e., for astronauts working outside spacecraft Food Tray PS-0110 Green- Replica; made by Global Effects, based on actual NASA OK to touch specimens Note Velcro pieces to hold food packets. Dispenser Tube PS-0104 Green- Actual NASA surplus; used to dispense water from Shuttle OK to touch reservoir to re-hydrate food and drink in packets, and as drinking straw. Food Packets Yellow- PLEASE DO NOT OPEN PACKETS Srambled PS-0098 Careful Would be rehydrated--using water from dispensing tubes. Eggs PS-0099 touch only Note the Cyrillic writing in Russian on the tubes. The labels Orange Drink PS-0100 would be understandable to both U.S. Astronauts and Russian Oatmeal- PS-0101 Cosmonauts on board the I.S.S. Raisin The orange drink is not TANG Coffee Alex is making coffee in the play. In-Flight EMU PS-0080 Green- Similar to a "camel bag" used by bicyclists, this bag fits into the Drink Bag OK to touch EMU suit over the astronaut's back. This bag was scrapped by NASA before flying (it failed to meet standards). Sleep Shorts PS-0061 Green- These shorts were surplus from NASA; they did not fly nor were OK to touch they worn. The Velcro strips help keep the astronauts from floating away while asleep. (Alex had this problem.) Rock Sample PS-0109 Green-OK Replica; made by Global Effects, based on actual NASA Grabber Tool to touch specimen used on Apollo Moon landings Extravehicular PS-0068 Yellow- Actual bag used on Shuttle mission ( one-finger touch only. ) Trash Bag Careful As in the play, astronauts try to be careful of stuff floating touch only around the inside of their spacecraft. They also try to prevent stuff from floating off outside, as well. Much of the "space Junk" in orbit today are accidental or on-purpose discards. It is no laughing matter to collide with this debris. Plethysmograph PS-0090 Yellow- Actual medical device from a Shuttle mission. Careful Made by scientists at the University of Denver to measure touch only muscle and cardiovascular activity in astronauts. The astronaut would wear this instrument on their thigh.