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How Astronauts Get Along

Photo by Flickr/trinity

Today I listened to a talk about how astronauts get along in space.  I think this is an interesting topic that through the programmes precise and niche analysis of astronaut behaviour actually overlaps a wider discourse of how people get along at work.  Although, of course, for an astronaut the social interaction with colleagues is hugely intensified by being away from home in a confined environment for long periods of time.  

This talk from NASA insightfully presents the problem whilst touching on their approach to it, and if anything left me intrigued to find out more. NASA has an extensive archive of not only podcasts but articles and images too, for you to explore the stellar depths of space from the comfort of planet Earth!

Link to Podcast:

NASA: How Astronauts Get Along

Related Links:

Science@NASA

NASA

Wikipedia: Human Adaptation to Spaceflight

Astrobiology: Psychological Effects of Space Exploration

A Different View

Tau Zero Foundation

http://www.centauri-dreams.org/?page_id=2118

Randy Bresnik

Selfportrait

Robert Satcher's Self-Portrait

N.A.S.A. feat Tom Waits & Kool Keith – Spacious Thoughts

Meeting Al Bean

It’s good to be a reporter. While writing about the U.S. space program I’ve had the chance to speak to three astronauts: Pam Melroy, Kent Rominger and Alan Bean. I’m sure I’d have talked to many more if it was my full-time gig, but alas, I am still officially a copy editor.

Though I’ve interviewed three astronauts, I’ve never actually met one, at least, not until Saturday, Nov. 14. That day, despite forecasts of heavy rain, I hopped in my Honda Civic for a 2½-hour drive to a little town just northwest of New Haven, Conn., called Seymour. It was in the cozy confines of the Greenwich Workshop Gallery on Main Street that I shook the hand of Apollo 12 lunar module pilot Al Bean.

I avoided the temptation to muscle my way to the front of the line to meet one of my childhood heroes. I had put away my reporters notepad and let my geek flag fly. For one day, at least, I would be a NASA fanboy, plain and simple.

During the drizzly couple of hours I spent standing in a line along Main Street, I met a number of fascinating people, including a 90-year-old woman who had been following NASA since she was my age. I also met a jovial couple from down the road who were surprised to hear how far I had come for the event.

I did have an in with Bean. I had talked to him in July. Actually, he had called me on my cell phone one Sunday night at the paper. I was working on a story (which ballooned into a pair of stories) for the 40^th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing about local companies that contributed to the Apollo Program. I had sent out about six or eight e-mails to former astronauts. A couple politely declined – “Sorry, too busy.” Most did not reply at all.

When Al Bean called me back, I almost fell out of my chair. He could tell I was a little flustered, so he suggested I call him back later in the evening. I gathered my things, found a quiet office and gave him a call.

He was one of the nicest guys I have ever interviewed … Heck, he WAS the nicest.

In the e-mail, I had asked for 15 minutes of his time. We talked for half an hour. And was ready to talk about each subject I had mentioned: the computer, food and communications carrier or “Snoopy cap.” Each recollection was interesting an punctuated with amusing anecdotes and nothing seemed rushed or forced.

It felt like I bad known him for years.

So, I wrote the articles and Bean’s story about Spaghetti (I won’t spoil it here) was the highlight of the second installment. I sent the articles to the New England Newspaper and Press Association for an award. I haven’t heard back yet, but I am hopeful.

Time passes …

I found out last week that Al Bean was going to be in Connecticut. I had missed him during a previous appearance in the state, and another one in Vermont. When I realized Saturday would be the 40^th anniversary of the launch of his moon flight, I knew I had to go.

Mother Nature was doing its best to duplicate the weather during the Kennedy Space Center liftoff all those years ago, minus the lightning.

I was going to ask him to sign a copy of one of the articles, but wimped out. Instead, I bought a copy of his new book, “Painting Apollo: First Artist on Another World” and a poster called “America’s Team” featuring an astronaut celebrating in front of an American flag.

As I approached, Bean was handed a slip of paper, “To Paul.” Then he turned to me and asked, “Is that it?” while offering his hand.

I saw my opening.

I carefully gripped his hand, knowing the multitude of items he had signed so far, and said, “Capt. Bean. My name is Paul Ring, I don’t know if you remember me, but I spoke with you back in July for an article I wrote. Actually, you called me.”

His eyes lit up as he said he remembered me and asked how the article went - another opening. This one was big enough for a Mack truck.

“I have a copy of the articles here, if you’re interested?” I said.

“Why sure,” he said in his characteristic Texas drawl. Then he apologized, “I won’t be able to read them here.”

I assured him I understood and told him he could keep them.

As he began signing, he asked me how I was finding journalism as a career. I could feel the gears stripping in my brain. “It’s a tough …” I stuttered, “… umm …”

Think Paul, think. Slow down, and think.

“It’s a tough job,” I croaked, (It was the only word I could find) “especially in this economy.”

“I can imagine,” he said, offering a warm smile. He clearly saw how nervous I was. Of course, I suspect he’d seen the same response umpteen times today alone.

Then a woman I met in line asked if I wanted her to take my photo with him. “Hell yeah!” I didn’t say that, but surely my face communicated that to her.

I handed her my camera and squeezed behind the table. As I put my hand on his chair, he stood up (he didn’t stand up for everyone) and placed his hand on my shoulder. Smikle, snap, flash, it was over.

I withdrew and he finished signing my book. “To Paul,” he wrote, “Fellow Artist,” punctuating it with a star.

As he began signing the poster, he asked, “Did you say you were coming down?” “No,” I replied, “I didn’t know you’d be here until last week.”

“Well thanks for coming,” again, more of that delicious drawl. “Thank you, sir,” I said. Wow, I hardly ever call anyone “sir” anymore.

On the poster, he wrote “To Paul Ring, Hold on to your dreams.” Down went the pen, and he brought up his hand again. “Well it’s good to see you, Paul,” he said.

“It’s good to finally meet you in person,” I replied as I grabbed his hand, a little firmer this time. “Thanks a lot.”

“My pleasure,” he said, before turning to the next man in line.

I walked away and turned back, soaking in the moment. Taking a breath, I stepped out into a cloudy, but surprisingly pleasant night.

NASAcast - Livebrush - Noodle - NumberNut - Moving into Work - Health & Disability Documents - Chatting with Kids about being online

Note: For an audio version of this blog visit http://drop.io/wdlihblog to listen and/or download and/or subscribe to an RSS Feed or for  iTunes downloads.

Items included in this blog are also included in my website, http://www.acljohn.com/. Don’t miss the “IN-TOUCH” Live broadcast (12:45 to 13:15) on 14^th December 2009 which has a focus on Yola; it can be viewed at http://www.livestream.com/locus.

Yes it’s official – I’m a Granddad! Jack was born at 20:03 GMT and weighed in at 8lb 7oz.

Today’s Finds include…

1:

NASA_CAST is a podcast repository containing a growing selection of audio-visual resources across a wide range of subject areas related to...

• astronomy,
• earth sciences, and
• space exploration.

Audio topics covered include...

• the Solar system,
• recent NASA news,
• the Shuttle and International Space Station,
• NASA moments and
• earth science stories.

The video casts include similar topics plus videos of...

• space missions and
• archive footage.

Note: podcasts are available through iTunes, and visitors can sign up to an array of newsfeeds for their preferred subject areas.

Take a closer look at http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/podcasting/.

2:

I have no other comment than... "This is mind-blowing!"

Livebrush is a free drawing program available for Mac and Windows computers.

Livebrush...

• offers a wide array of drawing tools for creating beautiful shapes, drawings, and designs.
• has built-in tools that allow users to create a simple sketches with just one or two strokes of the paintbrush.
• allows users to combine as many brush strokes as they like in their drawings.

Yet another tool for artists, designers etc. Watch the video clip below

Find out more and/or download at http://www.livebrush.com/.

3:

Noodle is a module, downloadable by your Moodle administrator, which makes it very easy to add NLN Learning Objects to Moodle course pages.

By making a streamlined version of the NLN website available from within Moodle itself, it makes adding Learning Objects to a course page even easier than adding Word documents.

You don't even need an NLN account to use it - just your regular Moodle login.

Find out more at http://www.nln.ac.uk/?p=Noodle.

4:

NumberNut is a comprehensive site filled with maths information and activities for review and direct instruction.

The two main areas of the site are...

1: Basic Maths that includes topics such as...

• shapes,
• time,
• operations etc. and

2: Advanced Maths that covers...

• decimals,
• fractions,
• money (US$),
• percentages, etc. 

On each of these pages users can...

• locate the Topic Section on the right,
• click on your desired topic to view a page with both information related to the topic and activities to reinforce the skill. 
• when an activity is selected users have the option to “Magnify the Activity" which makes it larger on the screen.

Many of the activities work and present well on Interactive White Boards. 

Find out more by visiting the site at http://www.numbernut.com/.

5:

This publication is designed to alert employers to impending changes within the education system that aim to see more people with learning difficulties and disabilities employed.

This publication aims to publicise the aims of the LSC strategy and encourage employers across all sectors to play a part in ensuring that disabled people have a positive start to their working lives.

It suggests ways employers can do this by:

• offering work experience opportunities and nominating mentors to support disabled people on placements;
• developing partnerships with education and training providers;
• making adjustments in the workplace and in recruitment procedures;
• advertising vacancies in places where they will be seen by disabled people;
• involving current staff in discussions about disability;
• linking up with other employers for information on best practice.

Download the publication from NIACE at http://www.niace.org.uk/research/HDE/Documents/Employers.pdf.

and an information publication for those with learning difficulties, with appropriate text and images, at http://www.niace.org.uk/research/HDE/Documents/Learners.pdf.

6:

The NIACE website has free resources to help providers and practitioners in supporting learners with a range of learning difficulties and disabilities;

The resources consist of...

• a series of case studies - highlighting practical examples of providers with a wealth of experience in supporting learners with learning difficulties and disabilities in work-based learning
• seven briefing sheets - each highlighting a particular learning difficulty or disability, explaining how it may affect learners in work-based learning and signposting to more sources of information and support.

Also on the NIACE website are

Moving into Work: (in the Employment section)

'There are six information sheets aimed at a number of different key players who need to be involved in the process of supporting people in their transition to work'

Copies of the information sheets can be downloaded from NIACE at http://www.niace.org.uk/research/HDE/documents.htm.

7:

On Guard Online offers a fifty-four page PDF guide to talking with kids about being online.

Net Cetera: Chatting With Kids About Being Online offers numerous suggestions for having conversations with learners about online behaviours.

The guide offers differentiated suggestions based upon the age of the children with which you're talking. Net Cetera covers topics including...

• social networking,
• cyberbullying,
• sexting,
• mobile devices,
• peer-to-peer file sharing, and
• online privacy.

To download Net Cetera: Chatting With Kids About Being Online go to http://www.onguardonline.gov/topics/net-cetera.aspx.