Our Space Trip

We want a star that...

It doesn't emit x-rays or gamma rays, and not to many ultraviolet rays.

It is safe to go to for a long time and hopefully a young star with lots of life left.

It is fairly inactive not flaring 24/7

It can support planets with the

right heat for liquid water.

It is fairly close not a whole galaxy away.

Astrocamp 2014: The Awsomatrons

Credits:

Testing for Signs of Life

For many years, humans have been asking if we are alone in the universe, so when we get to planet Awesomeatron, we will test for signs of other life forms. This is important because we want to know if there are any deadly bacteria, if the soil on our planet will grow our food, and if there are other animals and people we could possibly communicate with. Over the past week, we have learned many ways to do this...

Alexa Molina!!!

• The Teachers
• The Staff
• The Counselors
• Chip and Danny
• Dr. Bernard Harris, and
• ExxonMobil

Is it a good star?

How we Would Test for Signs of Life

These include using chemicals like ninhydrin, and iodine, and also looking for bacterial growth in ager coated pitri dishes. (Ager is a chemical that most bacteria can grow on)

The Microscope

Bacterial Growth

Before any other test, we first looked at the dirt sample under a microscope. We added water to the mixture and examined it for micro-organisms.

Lastly, we took a soil sample and swiped it across a pitri dish with a bacterial growing chemical called ager. One day later we checked our results on their growth.

To find out if our new star will be healthy and live for a long time, we will need to ask questions like:

Ninhydrin (Protein Test)

Iodine (Plant Starch Test)

Secondly, we added a chemical called ninhydrin to a different soil sample. This chemical, when evaporated, detects proteins. When there are enough proteins in the sample, a purple ring is left where the chemical was originally.

When added to a soil sample, the chemical Iodine, like ninhydrin, detects plant and bacterial life and proteins. But, were ninhydrin takes a night to detect proteins, iodine is an instant reaction to plant starches.

Alexa (or planet Earth) is 12 years old and is from Green River, Wyoming. She loves to dance and play volleyball. Alexa is very fun and active. Nothing is ever boring with her!

• Does it have a safe enough radiation?
• Is it about to go red giant or supernova?
• Is it a non-active stable star?
• Can it support planets?
• Is it not too far away?
• Does it have a habitable zone (Liquid water)?

Secondly, we added a chemical called ninhydrin to a different soil sample. Ninhy

Where are we Going?

Now that we have introduced our crew members, we will examine the star system we will be going to to get to planet Awesomeatron. We will have to look at some key things about the sun in the star system we are going to.

Bloopers!!

Nutrition

We will have to cut out almost all sweets. We will be eating mostly whole grains, fruit, veggies, good protein, all in the right amounts. On the ship we will not be eating a lot of meat so we don't need to bring a ton of animals.

Space Flight Challenges

Why we are leaving?

Sustainable Biospheres

Water Purification

• Oxygen
• Pure water
• Nutrition

Thanks for getting this far.

Bye bye now.

One of the most important factors of going to a new planet is making sure it can be a sustainable biosphere. This means that our planet Awesmoeatron can sustain its atmosphere and all living creatures under it. We have learned about these biospheres and have found the main, important factors to having one.

-The Awsematrons

-Enough oxygen for organisms to live

-Food and water to support life

Before you filter it you add iodine run it through and then boil it.

Oxygen

For our purification we have a (bottom to top) coffee filter on the bottom then a layer of active carbon, then sand, then cotton balls and finally a layer of rocks (gravel).

-Proper balance between plants and animals

We are leaving the Earth because of several unfortunate events. The humans have overpopulated the earth, which caused major pollution, which then makes all the birds die, causing the mouse population to skyrocket. The overpopulated mice then spread a deadly disease, making a global epidemic.

How will we have enough?

At first the water had a pH of 7 and a turbidity of about 55. Then the pH was again 7 and the turbidity was 26.5.

Just of the 7 people we have we will need at least 66571.2 litters of oxygen per day. That is just sitting around. No exercise.

We have decided to carry our oxygen in plants. As we breathe out we emit carbon dioxide which will help our plants. Then they produce oxygen for us.

What you need to live in an alien landscape

- First, the planet would have to have an atmosphere that could protect us from harmful sun rays, and keep oxygen from leaking into space.

- Second, the planet needs to have plenty of water for an entire human population to drink from.

When going to a totally new and different planet, you need to consider what you would need to live on this planet. Humans need some main objects and qualities to survive, and these are some of them.

- Fourth, the planet would need plants such as trees to produce oxygen for our selves.

-Third, the planet needs good, nutrient filled dirt to grow food for humans to stay healthy.

- Fifth, the planet would need enough natural materials to build shelters.

- Sixth you need a human friendly environment.

Sarah Heckel

Sarah, a.k.a Venus, is the second oldest camper in our group. She is from Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and she loves art and skiing.

Our Space Trip to

Planet "Awesomatron"!!!

Lauren Blackwelder

Lauren (otherwise know as Mars) is also 12 years old and she is from Casper, Wyoming. She loves to ski, run, and learn new things.

This week at camp, we have planned a trip to planet "Awesomatron." We have considered things like why we would leave the planet, what food and supplies we would to take to this planet, and other possible life forms we would encounter.

Rocket Launches

Sarah's Launch

Lauren's Launch

Alexa's Launch

Heidi's Launch

Cassidy's Launch

Rachels Launch

Safe Arrival

Team SoLaR's Lander

We also built "Mars Landers' " and got one test to simulate a real one shot landing

Transportation Technology

Roof Drop

Team IDK's Lander

Roof Drop

Our "passenger" had to stay safely inside our cabin and the "Lander"had to remain intact.

Heidi Brewer

This week we built rockets to test our space craft construction ability. We also tested different variables to see which one produced the most successful rocket flight

Cassidy's rocket; Distance reached, 60m; Launch angle, 45 degrees; Weight, 15g

Sarah's rocket; Distance reached, 65m; Launch angle, 30 degrees; Weight, 13g

Alexa's rocket; Distance reached 50m; Launch angle, 45 degrees; Weight, 19g

Lauren's rocket; Distance reached, 29m; Launch angle, 30 degrees; Weight, 12g

Heidi's rocket; Distance reached, 66.5m; Launch angle, 30 degrees; Weight, 19g

Heidi is Saturn and she is from Big Piney, Wyoming. She is 10 years old and loves showing her pigs in "4H" shows and playing Basketball.

Rachel Thompson

Rachel (or Jupiter) is from Piedmont, South Dakota. She is 11 years old and loves robotics, basketball, volleyball, and eating chocolate.

Our counselor, RACHEL!

Rachel, (also known as the sun in our solar system) has been our counselor this week... AND SHE IS THE BEST!!! She has taught us many different things about the solar system and the stars around it. She has been very nice and has let us get away with many things like climbing on the rocks at Vedauwoo and running everywhere! Thank you Rachel for being the best counselor ever!!!

Cassidy Crawford

Cassidy, a.k.a Mercury, is the oldest camper in our group. She is from Hayden, Colorado, and loves to run, read, and participate in "4-H".