Demonstrating that science is fun

This past week started with the second in the series of classes for Jay and me as Crew Medical Officers. We had a chance to discuss the contents of the shuttle onboard medical system (SOMS) kits and went over the contents of all of the kits item by item. This was followed by training sessions in the nominal and off nominal operations of the rotating chair for the vestibular experiment.

Wednesday brought a 4 hour simulator session to review the experiment impacts of power losses in the Spacelab. We had a chance to review all of the many payload powerdown procedures and spent a fair amount of time looking at the electrical distribution diagrams for the Spacelab hardware. We finished the day with a 2 hour brief on contingency deorbit procedures in preparation for another simulation session on Thursday.

Thursday morning Rick and I had a 4 hour EVA prep and post simulation in which we reviewed the complete procedure for preparing and donning and doffing our EVA suits. We spent approximately 15 minutes in the suits in the airlock of the CCT in building performing comm and suit checks before donning the suit. The session was a great review of suit procedures and with both found it invaluable.

Friday morning I had water survival training at the NBL. For this session we don our launch and entry suits and are hoisted about 20 feet in the air and then dropped into the water. We have to release our parachute, move out from under it and then inflate and get into our life raft. Fortunately, I was also able to record a short video welcome for the 7th International Congress of Emergency Medicine while in my LES. The second video session was to welcome students to the Ontario Science Center for Engineering Week. It was taken with me hanging suspended above the water and finished with me being dropped into the water after reminding everyone that science is fun!!

Friday afternoon, I gave a tour of the Spacelab to Canadian Space Agency President Mac Evans and Minister Manley during which the Minister had a chance to try the VCF experiment from York University and Bristol Aerospace. The hardware functioned flawlessly and we are all looking forward to performing the experiment in space. This weekend was spent studying orbiter systems and going over the guest list and other administrative activities. Next week promises to be equally exciting as Kay, Scott and I have become "Prime Escargots"!!