![]() ![]() Multiple solder less breadboards and jumper wires were used to make all connections. A bench set-up was completed as shown in the accompanying photos. I needed “proof of concept” reinforcement to make sure the Arduino code and electronic set-up would work before starting the final assembly. The mission control box will be approximately 24 inches wide by 18 inches deep and 9 inches high. It will plug into regular 110 volt house current for the power to run it. The mission box will be made out of light ½” plywood with a lid and handle so it can be easy transported. Graphics on the inside of the lid will give a “heads-up” display of some valuable pre-flight and flight information. The mission control center will be laid out with pre-flight functions and information on the left side, blast-off functions and information in the center and powered flight and orbit functions and information on the right side. The box will be designed to hold three columns of panels. Each panel could be assembled and wired separately and tested to make sure it worked. The size varied depending on what components were attached. Each panel had to be planned and laid out for the particular components that would be mounted on it. Each panel was designed to accomplish a particular function or display a piece of information. The overall mock-up of a Mission Control Center was made up of many smaller panels. Once the child is satisfied with their shuttle mission, they can end the simulation at any time by pushing the red mushroom “Abort” Button. So each tracking station lights up approximately every 10 minutes as it tracks the shuttle. From my research, it seems the average orbit around the earth last 90 minutes at approximately 17,500 MPH. ![]() Nine tracking stations are indicated by an individual LED light. Once the shuttle achieves orbit, a child can track its path around the earth on the world map mounted on the inside of the lid. The indicator lights for these tasks correspond to the top middle powered flight tracking map of the east coast of the United States that I mentioned before. Solid Rocket Boosters (SRB) Full Throttle I included four tasks the child should complete by throwing the toggle switch up so the green indicator light comes on and the red indicator light goes off. Again, a green light will come on 10 seconds before a task must be completed. As with the countdown, the child has certain tasks that must be completed to simulate a successful launch. In real time, powered flight lasts for about 8 ½ minutes. Mock flight trajectory statistics start tracking the progress of the launch (altitude, speed, mission time) on the top right panel. The child can follow the initial powered launch on the top middle map of the eastern seacoast as it leaves Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida.Ĥ. A couple of LED lights under the middle picture of the space shuttle launch flicker to simulate the rockets firing.ģ. ![]() A recorded NASA broadcast of a shuttle lift-off plays for about 35 seconds.Ģ. This “Go” button will not work until the countdown is complete (down to zero). ![]() Once, each pre-flight system has been checked as OK by the child, the countdown will reach zero.Īt that time, the green “Go” or “Blast-Off” oversized mushroom launch button is pushed to launch the shuttle with its associated rockets and fuel tank. Once the “problem” has been corrected, you push the countdown “Start” button again to resume the countdown from where it was stopped. You can stop the countdown at any time by pushing the “Hold” button. There are a total of seven pre-flight system checks. The child must repeat this for each pre-flight system approval that is alerted. The child must move the associated toggle switch up to give the OK, consequently a green indicator light comes on and the red indicator light goes off. Simultaneously, a “heads-up” display of the shuttle on the inside of the lid will visually identify the system to be checked. During the countdown, a series of warning lights come on 10 seconds before a pre-flight system must be approved for the launch. Countdown begins at 10 minutes before liftoff or T-600 seconds. ![]()
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