News

Win a trip to Space Camp, USA!

NASA astronaut, Col Kimbrough

Speaking to over 1,100 second level students and teachers in the Helix during his visit to Dublin City University on Friday, US astronaut, Colonel Shane Kimbrough, announced the details of a unique opportunity to win a trip to summer space camp in the US.

The trip will be an all-expenses paid trip to Space Summer Camp in Huntsville, Alabama from 29 July 2012 - 3 August 2012, and is sponsored by the United States Embassy, Dublin, in partnership with Dublin City University. 

Full details of the competition can be found at:  http://dublin.usembassy.gov/

NASA astronaut, Col Kimbrough, gave his audience an insight into his experiences on the STS-126 Endeavour, including video footage showing the effects of gravity on simple activities such as eating, drinking, moving and exercising.  He described the process of changing in and out of the cumbersome spacesuit used in spacewalks and showed the effects of weightlessness on the ability to carry out simple tasks.

Col Kimbrough spent almost a total 13 hours on spacewalks, during which he carried out repair work on the exterior surface of the space station.  Other highlights of his mission included expanding the living quarters of the space station to eventually house six-member crews by delivering a new bathroom, kitchenette, two bedrooms, an exercise machine and a water recycling system.  STS-126Endeavour returned to Earth after completing 250 orbits in over 6 million miles.