The MSFC is one of NASA's largest complexes, where all the elements of space flight development and control occur. From the creation of NASA and the Apollo programme to take mankind to the Moon, MSFC has been central to human spaceflight.

At MSFC, astronauts are trained, future rocket technologies are created and tested, propulsion components of Shuttle launches are controlled, the International Space Station is monitored and managed, new robots and satellites are produced and put through their paces and astronauts are trained. Not only that, but MSFC plays host to some of the finest space education resources and educators in the world, encouraging teachers and students with hands-on interactive activities and engaging features, promoting space science as the most inspiring area of the science curriculum.

1 Week at Marshall Space Flight Centre, Huntsville, Alabama

Day 1: Sunday

• Introduction to the MSFC programme

• Guided tour of the US Space & Rocket Center, Rocket Park and IMAX

• Space museum, History of Space, Apollo Capsule

• Introduction to Human Space Exploration

Day 2: Monday

• Hands-on propulsion activities at education resource centre
• Visit MSFC's Rocket Launch Test Stands
• Stands and flame trenches
• Control room
• Simulation
• Demo
• Solid Rocket motor demo
• Hands-on intractive science at the Sci-Quest centre, including videoconference with a NASA astronaut

Day 3: Tuesday

• Payload Operations Center tour with possible interaction with crew

Space station mission control.
Control ISS experiments with astronauts working onboard

• Huntsville Operations Shuttle Command tour

See where propulsion parts of a Shuttle launch are controlled.
Re-run a real shuttle launch, simulated live in the control room

• Space Camp- Mission (students)

Visit the original, largest and best Space Camp
Multi-axis trainers
Hover-propelled robotics
Mission simulations
Control shuttle robot arm.

• Workshop- hands on (teachers)

Training on the 'Utilization of space in the classroom', with the NASA education dept and ISSET specialists

Day 4: Wednesday

• Visit MSFC's Propulsion Research Lab

See the place where NASA creates future propulsion technologies, such as solar sails and plasma rocket engines
Learn about propulsion technologies from the world's foremost experts

• Environmental and Life Support System

Learn how to build living environments in space and on other planets and the challenges of living in space

• Robotics Flat Floor

See where NASA tests out new robots and satellites for use in space and on other planets

• Workshop- hands on (teachers)

Further training on the 'Utilization of space in the classroom', with the NASA education dept and ISSET specialists

• Space Camp Experience (students)

Neutral Buoyancy Tank at USSRC (subject to availability)
Robotics control experiment
MAT - multi-axis trainer

 

Day 5: Thursday

• Aviation Challenge (students)

Flight simulation and water rescue simulation of parachuting into water and being rescued by helicopter

• Educator Resource Center (teachers)

• Space Camp experience (teachers)

Neutral Buoyancy Tank at USSRC (subject to availability)
Robotics control experiment
MAT - multi-axis trainer

• USSRC dinner and special guest speaker

Day 6: Friday

Fly home (flight may arrive next day, depending on departure time)