Thursday, April 14, 2011

4th Grade - Spring Break - Going where no man has gone before...

In honor of New York City getting a space shuttle (albeit a prototype) your Spring Break assignment revolves around NASA and the Space Shuttle program.

Your assignment:
Watch the video showing the first Space Shuttle flight...

Write a response to the video as a comment here on the blog.
- Here are some questions to get you thinking about the type of response to write:
> What do you think about the video?
> What do you think it was like to be on the first Space Shuttle?
> What do you think it would have been like to watch the first flight in person?
> What was the most interesting part of the video for you?

The only audio you will hear on the video is the communication between the control tower and the Shuttle. Think about what you are seeing more than what you are hearing.

Write your response in full and complete sentences.



Space shuttle Columbia launched on the first space shuttle mission on April 12, 1981, a two-day demonstration of the first reusable, piloted spacecraft's ability to go into orbit and return safely to Earth. This video depicts the historic launch, in-orbit activity by astronauts John Young and Bob Crippen, and the vast crowds who witnessed the landing at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.

Here are some other space related links you might also find interesting (feel free to comment about the links too):

Space Shuttle fact site
NASA video gallery
Solar System


Have a great vacation...



Remember - Comment as "Name/URL" and use your first name and last initial (proper capitalization, no URL)- please respond in full and complete sentences - double check your work before posting your comment.

54 comments:

KsenijaS said...

I think the video was interesting because it made me feel like i was there when the first Space Shuttle flight took place.
I think it must of been scary to be on the first Space Shuttle. It is the first launching of it and anything could happen like it could explode or not work.
I think it would be amazing to see the first flight. It must have been a big deal because it is this crazy new invention.
What I thought the most interesting thing about the video was in the end because it was a big accomplishment.

Terrence W. said...

I think that video was really cool. I have never seen a rocket ship take flight before. I think it would be pretty cool being in rocket ship because, you can see how tiny things are, on land. If I saw that in person, it would be cool to see how huge the rocket ship is.

Chris said...

Ksenija, Terrance,
Great comments.

You two are excellent examples of how to complete the assignment properly. Thank you for your thoughts and the quality of your comments.

Lucas P. said...

I think the video was really cool. The fire that shot the rocket upward, caused a lot of smoke and was big. I think I would be excited and scared at the same time if I was in the rocket. You were about to go to the Moon and that's got to be exciting, but at the same time, you are going to a place no other human being has gone before. I think if I saw the rocket take off, it would be the most breathtaking thing I had ever seen. I think the coolest thing in the video was the end because the people who greeted the people on the rocked looked in awe and were complimenting them.

Jared.G said...

I think this video is good because of this I found out what the first
space shuttle launch looked like. I think it would be scary to be on the first rocket because since it's
the first time anybody done this
plus nobody can give you tips on what to do.
I think it would be awesome to see
the first rocket launch because I never saw rocket launch in my life.

Gianna L. said...

It was cool seeing a spaceship launch. And it was cool to see a spaceship land, too. I liked how it showed the inside of the ship. It made me feel like I was there, too.

SophiaW said...

I think it would be cool to see the space shuttle blast off. There would probably be lots of dust, smoke, and grit that would blast into my face though...I think that it would be cool to be in the shuttle and see the stars!

Cesar.A said...

I think that video was awesome.I didn't like the part when it let of a lot of smoke I think that's why the air is polluted.

Briana A. said...

Briana A.

I think the video was really cool.I liked the whole video .My favorite part was when the plane came down safe.
I wonder how was it in the space shuttle.I would have been scared... really scared. Maybe it was fun or maybe
it was scary.

Kaylani T said...

I think the video was cool and interesting.It will really really cool if i were on the Space shuttle ship and see stuff in tiny version.I think it will be a lot of smoke. All most everything was really cool.

Nigel.M said...

I also think it would be fun to blast off in a space shuttle and see Earth and maybe mars I wish I really can go outer space some day.

Andrew M said...

I never saw a space shuttle take off or land,so it was very interesting to see how it was done.
I think it would have been scary and exciting to ride on the first space shuttle because you don't know what is going to happen.
I'm not sure if I would want to see the first space shuttle in person. It might have been too loud and sparks and dirt will fly out. It would be cool to be able to tell other people that I saw the first space shuttle.

Ariella O. said...

I think the video was very interesting. It was cool and totally awesome. If I were the first person I would be really nervous because you don't know what's in space but also you don't know if the space shuttle is good enough to actually take you there. If I saw this in person I would be sick from my stomach. nobody really knows if it will work. If I put that to the side I think I would enjoy the awesomeness. Seeing the first space shuttle taking off is a once in a life time chance since it's the first. The second one obviously won't be the first. The most interesting part of the video is the space shuttle taking off. That part was really amazing. That was totally the best part out of everything else.

tyler said...

Tyler O.

I think the video was really cool and awesome.I think it would of been a little scary because it was the first space shuttle to lunch.I think it would be nice to see it in person. The most interesting part of the video was when the space shuttle landed safe back to Columbia.

Maya L. said...

Maya L.
I would feel scared and excited because a lot could go wrong,but I'd be excited to witness the first space shuttle launch.I noticed that most of the communication between the space shuttle and the mission control were questions and advice.If I were part of the crew,I'd feel proud that I was doing something good for my country.

Jade M said...

I think it would be a bit scarry because this was the first space shuttle and you never know what would happen. I think the austronauts were sort of worried but also exited too. My favorite part about the video was when the shuttle took off and the smoke was all over the place then the shuttle was in the air. When the shuttle landed, they were all safe and sond back to Columbia.

EliasR. said...

I think that the video is an amazing and historic document. It included a lot of information that I did not know, so it was also educational.
I think it would have been fun and hard to live on the space shuttle, because you can hang upside down and work with random gizmos, but it would not be fun to stuck in space with nothing to do but press flashy buttons.
To watch the first fight in person would be a moment that I would never forget because it would be a part of history that would be remembered forever after.
The most interesting part of the video was seeing the astronauts come down to Earth and being greeted by all the people. They looked like some alien from Star Wars and their legs seemed like they had one hundred tons on each. In other words, they walked funny!
Once again, it was interesting to watch the space shuttle landing.

Leslie T said...

I think the video was really cool beacause all these people are going to do something unforgetable

I think that it must have been scary to be in this first shuttle because you don't know if everything is going to be all right.

I would have been really excited and I would have hoped that these people return safely.


The most interesting part was towards the end when it was all a big accomplishment.

Anonymous said...

Marily C.

This was so cool because it showed me aboutthe space shuttle that lanched on thefirst shuttle on April 12,1981.

The most interesting part was when they had a great accomolishment

Kieran H. said...

I think the video was interesting because it showed you what it would be like to experience the first space shuttle launch and return to earth. I think it would be scary to be on the first space shuttle because nobody has been on a space shuttle before that and you wouldn't know what the outcome would be. The most interesting part of the video for me was when the space shuttle took off because it was fun to watch fire come out of the end and see the shuttle rise.

Dylan.D said...

I think that the video was very interesting because it showed the first space shuttle launch.I think it would be scary because this is they're first time launching.It was interesting to see the inside of the ship.

Max F. said...

The video was pretty cool and one of the biggest historical events ever.
I think it would be exciting to be on the first space shuttle and a little scared too.
I think it would be exciting, joyful and amazing.
The most interesting part for me was when the shuttle touched down like an airplane. I didn't know shuttles could touch down like planes.

Henry G. said...

I thought that the video was awesome! It almost made me wish I was there. I think that if I met the people who drove the Columbia I would ask them if they were ever scared, I think I would be.

Marc.D said...

Marc.D. What I thought of the video was real special for humanity to be in the space shuttle. What i think about being in the first space shuttle is awsome cause you get to see how Earth looks in space. It will be awsome to see the flight in person because it's a thing people really want to do for a living. The most interesting thing is when they tested the space craft in the center I like this because they would have to test the craft and teaches me about how they test the space craft.

Adina M. said...

I think that the video was really interesting because when the shuttle blasted off, there was lots of smoke, and it looked like an explosion.That was my favorite part of the video.
I think that it would be cool, but a little bit scary. I think that it would be a little scary, because the Columbia was the first Space Shuttle.
If I was there in person watching the Columbia take flight, I would be a bit scared for the people inside, because nobody had been inside a ship like the Columbia before.I would be excited also because it was a new experience.

Roberto said...

I think the video was interesting. When I was a kid,I was into space things.

Pawel S. said...

I think that the video was interesting and awesome. I think it was scary to be on the first Space Shuttle flight because nobody flew on a Space Shuttle yet, and you didn't know what could happen. I think it would be really cool to watch the Space Shuttle fly for the first time. The most interesting part to me was when the Space Shuttle started off and clouds of smoke where everywhere.

Jacob.C said...

I thought the video was amazing it showed the inside of the space ship and the takeoff all in all it was a great video experience.
To be on the first space shuttle must be huge for the riders and a great honor.
If I watched the flight in person i would be amazed of all the flames from the engines and also i would be struck by the fact (this is going to be the first space shuttle ever to go into space).
The most interesting part of the video for me was when the video changed and looked at the peoples space clothes and when the rocket launched.

Stephen.W said...

I really liked the video because I felt like I was there. I think to be on the first Space Shuttle would be scary and cool. It would be really amazing to see the first flight because it's something new and crazy. The most intersting part for me was when the astronauts landed because they didn't die and completed their mission.

Jaquann H said...

I think the space shuttle launch was interesting,because it made me feel like i was there when it was happening.I think that they were nervous and excited to be the first people to go in space.If i was able to see the shuttle launch in person i would be scared and excited at the same time

Brandon.C said...

I think it was cool becouse there was was an explosion before the blast off, it my have been a burst of smoke but who knows. I think it was a bit cool to be one of the first people on a space ship but i would have been nervous if i were on it becouse something wrong could of happened like a an explosion. It would have been cool to watch the first flight in person becouse not alot of people get to watch a space ship take off so i think it would have been an oner

Jaxon S. said...

1. I think the video was interesting because I never knew that the Columbia was the first space shuttle to take off.
2. I think it would have been a bit scary because no one has been in space.
3. I think it would have been awesome to see the first flight in person.
4. The most interesting part was the ''blastoff'' because the smoke clouds were ENORMOUS!!!!!!!!!

Matthew.L said...

I think it was very cool to see how a space shuttle blsted off.

LarryP said...

I think the video was cool because I like to see a space shuttle blast off because a lot of smoke comes out.

James. C. said...

I think this video is amazing on how fast the shuttle took off!
I would be very bumpy and I would vomit a couple of times.
It would have been very exciting to watch the shuttle in person because I would always remember that I saw the first space shuttle in the sky.
For me the most interesting part of the video would be the shuttle taking off

Sam D. said...

I think the video was cool because they're talking about the first space shuttle! I think I would be nervous if I was on that space shuttle. If I saw the space shuttle in person, I would be surprised because of how the shuttle could go that high! The most interesting part was when the space shuttle went up,there was a lot of smoke.

Zachary G. said...

I thought the video was very cool. I have never seen a space shuttle blast of into space.
It must have been very scary because you never know what could happen.
The most interesting part to me was when the space shuttle landed because there was a lot of smoke behind the space shuttle.
I would be frightened if I were on the space shuttle because I might never come back to earth.

Cayden G. said...

I think that if that was me on that shuttle, I would be really scared. I would be scared because I would be in space and that is really high up.
I thought the video was interesting because it was a real space shuttle landing.

kisala G said...

I think this video is amazing. I think that the astronauts are very brave to go on the shuttle for the very first time. They made it look so easy. It looked like they landed a regular plane.
I could imagine going to outer space.
It looks more easier than using a rocket.

Anonymous said...

Aero M.

I think the video was great because I never saw a space shuttle take off. If I was on the first space shuttle I would be scared because it might blow up. I think it would be scary on the first shuttle because you might not come back. I think it would be cool to watch the first shuttle take off because I like space shuttles. The most interesting part of the video was when it took off because I wonder how it lifts it's self.

Isaiah J said...

Isaiah.J

I thought it was cool that they flew in a space shuttle .I think it would be fun to fly above ground and see the landforms below from space. It would be fascinating to see the first flight in person because you see all the smoke in the air and how far the space shuttle goes in the air.The most intersting part of the video was to see the land masses under the space shuttle.

Adrianna T. said...

Adrianna T. said...
I thought that it was interesting when it showed the inside of the spaceship and how fast it was. I liked the video it was interesting. It was probably scary for the people in it. If I were there it probably be cool.

Tomas said...

http://www.solarsystemscope.com/

The site is awesome because you can zoom to the sun and all the eight planets. On planet Earth I looked at the continents and oceans and ice caps at north and south poles. I found constelashons of stars intearsting. I did not know they had names like Ursa Major. I wouldn’t expect to see lines when I look up at the sky at night. I learned about the rings that a planet travels around the sun. A planet nearest to the sun takes a shorter number of days to complete one revoluishon around the sun. By seeing all the blue spots on the Earth made me think about if there is a planet that has clouds and things that we have on Earth.
Tomas Bogoslaw 3-415

charlie dicus said...

What was the name of that space shuttle?I think the landing was pretty cool.The landing was probably a lot faster then the video showed it.

Tayyub M. said...

I think the video is interesting because, the video was the first space shuttle hit in America. I think it would be challenging and fun to be the first one to go on a space mission on a space shuttle. It would also be very exciting and mind blowing, if I was the first one to experience it. The best part was when the space shuttle blasted off!

sophie.K said...

Sophie K.

I think it must have been very exciting to be going into space, but very scary because the shuttle you're in could brake down or something. In the video the person talking kept calling the space shuttle California. Is that the space shuttle's name? I wish I was able to see the space shuttle up close or maybe touch it! Did the astronauts bring back a moon rock or something? If so I would like to see it.

Eddie N. said...

I think the people who made the shuttle had a lot of pressure on them because every gear had to work perfectly. If things did not work it could get pretty scary for the astronauts because the big fuel tanks could explode

Gabriela C. said...

I thought the video was, very cool and interesting. I think that it must of been very exciting for the people on the space shuttle, because they were there for the 1st time and they got to see space. It would be very loud if i saw it in person, but amazing and fun to watch it take off.

brianna R. said...

Brianna R. said:

I loved watching the video because it was very interesting. It was cool to see how the shuttle took off and to see the astronauts flying in the shuttle instead of seating.
It must have been a very scary experience because they didn't know what they would find in space or even if they would make it to space.
I wish I could have seen the shuttle in person because that would have been a life time experience, and not sure if that was dust or smoke.
The most interesing part for me was when they were taking off and to see them floating once they got to space.

Joshua W said...

1)I think the video was good and interesting.
2)It must be awesome and exciting to be an astronaut preparing for a shuttle flight. Things must be even more exciting to be the first.
3)Awesome to be there and watching.
4)Watching the astronauts walking in space suits.

Mbucovy said...

I dislike that website. I didn't like it at all and it didn't help me at all either. It also didn't teach me anything. It only taught me the distance between the planets in our solar system. But I guess the graphics are pretty good.

Christian Marquez said...

I think the video was interesting.I think it was scary to be on the first Space Shuttle.I would think would they make it back.The most interesting is when the space ship came back.from C.Marquez

Itzel C. said...

I think the video was cool because you can see the shuttle taking off.
I think it would feel scary on the shuttle because you don't know what will happen next.
I think it would feel awsome to see the shuttle taking off.
My favorite part of the video was the end when everything was completed.

Dorian A. said...

The video was awesome because the space shuttle was going up to space.It must be exciting to be on the space shuttle because when your in space you get to see an amazing view of the earth.