Students at Bert Church High School had the unique opportunity to speak into space March 11, as Let’s Talk Science and the Canadian Space Agency held a downlink, connecting Commander Chris Hadfield to Airdrie.
Hadfield was made the commander of the International Space Station (ISS) on March 13, making him the first Canadian commander to do so.
Let’s Talk Science, a national charitable organization that delivers scientific programming to Canadian schools to keep students engaged in the science world, organized the downlink.
Ninety-five students at the school have been working on an experiment, which records the amount of neutron radiation exposure on Earth, in the skies above and in space. Students record the daily amount of neutron radiation on the ground, and submit it to Let’s Talk Science.
Air Canada Jazz pilots are doing the same experiment, and recording their results as well.
“I have goose-bumps, I don’t know about all of you,” said Bonnie Schmidt, founder and President of Let’s Talk Science during the presentation. “We found out he (Hadfield) was doing a really interesting experiment at the space station looking at neutron radiation exposure … and we though at Let’s Talk Science that we could do that too.”
Before the connection was established with the Space Station, former astronaut Bob Thirsk spoke to students about the space station, which he called home in 2009, but said he was just excited to be in the gymnasium with like-minded people.
“I am very happy to be here today, because there are 1,000 students, parents and teachers who are interested in science, so I feel I am with kindred spirits,” said Thirsk.
Because of the incredible amount of man-power it takes too establish a flawless connection with Earth, the downlink was set for about 20 minutes in length, which was filled with students asking questions regarding everything from the neutron radiation experiment to how to sleep in space.
“I loved it,” said Bert Church High School Science Teacher Lindsay Rous. “There was a buzz going on in the whole school for the rest of the day. Students said it was the coolest thing they had ever done and would remember it forever.”
Rous spoke about the importance of providing students with real-world experiences to ensure that interest in science beyond school continues.
“The more things they see, the more likely they will be caught by it. The more real-world experiences we can bring them the better,” said Rous. “It has effected everyone that was there.”
Rous said her favourite response from Hadfield was to a question asked about what a rocket launch feels like.
Hadfield floated in the ISS to a position like that of an astronaut seated in the rocket. He gave a very animated description of the feeling of a launch.
“Your rocket ship is going super fast, and you are being pushed in your seat, it gets quite heavy,” said Hadfield.
“It’s a heck of a ride. From the time the engines light until the time you get to space, its only about nine minutes. It’s a rough ride, but it’s a ride I would be happy to do again.”
Another student asked what the sensation is like when the rocket is finally in space, and weightlessness takes over.
“You go from being squished in your chair to floating in your chair inside your rocket ship,” said Hadfield. “It’s like you are getting pummeled and squished by some fat gorilla sitting on you, and then they pick you up and throw you off a cliff.”
Anyone interested in watching the downlink and view it at www.letstalkscience.ca
