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NASA Johnson Space Center
http://learningoutpost.jsc.nasa.gov
Contact:  Event Coordinator     1.281.244.7325

NASA Johnson Space Center located in Houston, Texas was established in 1961 as the Manned Spacecraft Center.  The Center was renamed in honor of the late President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1973.  JSC leads NASA in human space exploration and currently serves as the lead NASA center for the International Space Station.  The center's Mission Control Center (MCC) has been the operational hub of every American human space mission since Gemini IV.    JSC is also responsible for training astronauts from the U.S. and out Space Station partners.

Programs

A Place in Space
(Space Station History) Grades K-12
Go back to the future to learn about the dreams and efforts by humans to build a presence off our planet and into space. Become an Engineer, design the next generation of space stations in your classroom and present your ideas to NASA’s Digital Learning Network.

BIO: Bodies In Orbit Expedition
(Effects of Space on the Human Body) Grades K-12
The human body is designed for and functions best in the presence of Earth’s gravity. In space, astronauts enter an environment we call microgravity, which affects the body in many ways, including changes to the cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and neurovestibular systems. As humans explore further into space, it is vitally important that we understand the effects of spaceflight on the human body and prevent or mitigate the adverse effects so that astronauts can spend longer periods of time in space.

Caution: Falling EVERYTHING!
(Microgravity Expedition) Grades K-12
Join us on an expedition to the world of microgravity. Often misperceived as weightlessness or zero gravity, microgravity is the unique gravitational environment astronauts experience on a spacecraft orbiting the earth. It is a condition that challenges humans who work and live in space, and that benefits many types of scientific research by freeing it from restrictions imposed by Earth's gravity for thousands of years.

Earth According to WORF Expedition
(Imagery from Space) Grades K-12
Many of us have seen photos of the Earth taken from the Space Shuttle and have marveled at their beautiful vistas. Such imagery will continue to be collected as the International Space Station becomes operational, providing a permanent platform for remote sensing. At NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, Earth scientists study images of Earth from geographic and scientific points of view, and their investigations reveal telling facts about our planet and its processes. Data acquired by astronauts and made available on the internet by NASA help the general public, city officials, etc. to make decisions about where to live, how to vote, where to build our communities, how to plan our future and much, much more.

Other

Our Solar Neighborhood Expedition
(Astronomy) Grades K-8
Our solar system is comprised of nine distinctive planets orbiting one massive star, our sun. We hope that you will join us for a journey of discovery about our unique solar system. If you are up for the challenge you will learn the qualities of each planet that set it apart from the others, along with the relationship they all share. Join us and let the discovery begin!

Showcase
Educators
The NASA Johnson Space Center's Digital Learning Network opens virtual doors for remote instruction and interaction between NASA experts and students and is pleased to offer a wide selection of Digital Learning Expeditions & Challenges. Primarily a video teleconference-based project, the DLN provides national standards-based educational modules relating to space exploration. We hope you will join us soon! We look forward to working with you and your students in the near future!
Unique Characteristics:

• Live, high-energy, interactive 50-minute educational events (a limited amount of tailoring is available)

Space Basics 101
Grades 4-12
You have been accepted into NASA’s Astronaut Training Program! Be prepared to share some of your unique qualifications, attend a preview of your training and flight expectations, and propose an experiment to be flown aboard the shuttle or ISS before you arrive at the home of the Astronaut Corps in Houston, Texas!

Space Farming Expedition
Grades K-12
Plants are an important component for space-based and extraterrestrial life support systems. Just as they do on Earth, plants in a regenerative life support system can take carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and produce breathable oxygen through a process called photosynthesis. Of course, plants are also a source of food. So, in theory, plants could provide two essential elements needed for humans to live in space: oxygen to breathe and food to eat. Before plants can deliver these essentials, however, NASA must learn how to grow plants in space, and how to incorporate them and other biological components into life support system research facilities, here on Earth.

Space Food
Grades K-12
Everyone knows that people on Earth need food in order to stay alive. If we are in space, does that requirement change? The answer is no. Astronauts need food in order to live in space just as when they are on Earth. The trick is that they cannot run to the grocery store before launch because there are several requirements the food must meet to make it aboard the Space Shuttle.

SpaceBots Expedition
(Robotics) Grades K-12
We've all seen robots in movies, on television, and in science fiction magazines, performing tasks that range from the mundane to the extraordinary. We often fail to recognize how robots and automated systems are already doing work for us and helping make our lives more convenient if not easier. NASA already uses robotics technology to great extent in its exploration of space and students and teachers can learn about NASA’s use of robots from professionals who are designing and building the robotic systems that will help humans explore the universe. Learn how NASA defines robotics, see how robotic systems are already widely used in the space program and what plans there are for future robotic applications.

X-Flights Expedition
(Aeronautics Experimental Spacecraft) Grades 3-12
We've all seen robots in movies, on television, and in science fiction magazines, performing tasks that range from the mundane to the extraordinary. We often fail to recognize how robots and automated systems are already doing work for us and helping make our lives more convenient if not easier. NASA already uses robotics technology to great extent in its exploration of space and students and teachers can learn about NASA’s use of robots from professionals who are designing and building the robotic systems that will help humans explore the universe. Learn how NASA defines robotics, see how robotic systems are already widely used in the space program and what plans there are for future robotic applications.

Each Expedition module should be used in its entirety for students to experience its full value. As with expeditions of any kind, preparation is essential. Preparatory requirements are clearly stated in the module descriptions. For the best learning experience, be sure students are properly prepared before conducting a video conference.

Technical Requirements 

Electronic events with NASA's Digital Learning Network are made possible through the use of interactive two-way videoconferencing technology using ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) H.320 standard or IP (Internet Protocol) H.323 standard videoconference equipment.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

1. Access to one or more ISDN/BRI lines. A typical videoconference uses three ISDN lines (384 kbps), but from one (128 kbps) to six (768 kbps) ISDN lines can be used. This is the recommended mode of connection. (You need either A. or B. or both)
2. Access to IP videoconference connectivity. A typical IP videoconference (H.323 Standard) will be connected at 384 kbps. (You need either A. or B. or both)
3. An H.320 or H.323 compatible videoconferencing system.
4. NASA DLN receives ISDN or IP calls initiated by the customer. Your school or sponsoring organization initiates and funds the call to the Johnson Space Center. There are no other charges for the event.
5. Videoconferencing is bi-directional (two way) audio and video connectivity – you see and hear us and we see and hear you. The quality of your equipment hardware and connectivity mode have a direct impact on the quality of your expedition (program) – both video and audio.
6. We have designed our expeditions to make full use of the bi-directional videoconference medium with frequent interaction during the event. We also normally provide time for questions during the later part and other times during the event.
7. Our interaction during events means that it is just as important for us to be able to hear your students as it is for you to hear our presenters. Please keep this in mind regarding room technical set up. Know your equipment and how it can work to give you the best possible performance.
8. We have increased our technical capabilities for the 2003/2004 school year and now often connect to two or three locations on one event. The quality of an individual school’s connection can impact the other schools on the event.

Points of Interest:

Videoconferencing has taken giant leaps technologically in recent years. H.323 Standard (Internet Protocol or IP) Videoconferencing in particular has experienced an enormous growth of late. The most successful H.323 Standard Videoconferencing is occurring over dedicated data lines or through 3rd party providers that offer QOS (Quality of Service) dedicated lines. DLN currently has no affiliation with a QOS provider. Our experience with H.323 videoconferencing over the general internet (no QOS) has met with some less satisfactory results. When currently comparing our success with H.320 (ISDN) versus H.323 (IP General Internet) connections, we still highly recommend the ISDN connections. Certainly there are many factors to consider when deciding which method of connectivity to choose (or which to add) and these questions must be answered comparing cost and quality. We offer both methods of connectivity to meet as many of our customer’s needs as possible.

TEST CALL CONNECTIONS / CONNECTIVITY CHECKS

What is the difference between a test call and a connectivity check?

We refer to a Test Call Connection as a recommended test connection from your location to our equipment after we have confirmed your event with us.

We refer to a Connectivity Check as a test call connection before you register for an event to determine if you are able to connect with us – normally only needed when you are not as experienced with videoconferencing as some regular users or you have made changes or added new equipment to your location.

For both a Test Call Connection and a Connectivity Check…

We suggest that the connection be set up just like it will be for the event so that we can check both the success and quality of the connection as well as the ability to interact with the classroom for the event. We do not require a classroom full of students for a test call, but normally can determine this with the assistance of the technical operator of your classroom system. A test call connection can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes depending on a number of factors. The more preparation your site gives to readiness for the test call and understanding of your equipment can make the test go more smoothly. Our expectations would be for the operator of the classroom system (what we refer to in our Registration Questionaire as the Technical Contact) to know the basic operation of the equipment including, but not limited to:

1. How to initiate a videoconference call and how to answer a videoconference call. What mode of connection you utilize (ISDN or IP) and the calling rates.
2. How to move the position of the cameras – moving left and right, up and down, and zooming in and out.
3. How to best utilize the microphone(s) – where to position the microphone(s), how to mute (turn on and off) the microphone(s).
4. How to perform a re-set of the videoconference equipment (sometimes referred to as a CODEC re-boot or a CODEC power re-set).

Connectivity Check
A Connectivity Check can be requested for instances as noted above. It should only be requested if you have not yet registered for an event. We ask that you verify several days before your connectivity check that your videoconference equipment is working properly by connecting to another site outside of any internal network of which you may be a part. If you have any problems with that connection(s), we ask that you correct those problems before your Connectivity Check with the DLN.

To schedule a Connectivity Check contact our Technical Director via e-mail at the address below. In the Subject line of your e-mail, include the words Connectivity Check. In the body of the e-mail, give several options for dates and times you are available for your connectivity check. Our connectivity checks are normally scheduled at the same time as test calls at 7:40 am, 2:40pm, and 3:10pm (Central Time Zone).
EXAMPLE of e-mail “Subject” line – “Subject: Connectivity Check”

Test Call Connection
A Test Call Connection can be completed with the DLN for your event. It is suggested that the test call be requested 2-3 weeks before an event. For multi-site connections (from your location), we strongly recommend that the test call involve each of your participating end locations.
We ask that you verify several days before your test call that your videoconference equipment is working properly by connecting to another site outside of any internal network of which you may be a part. If you have any problems with that connection(s), we ask that you correct those problems before your Test Call with the DLN.

To schedule a Test Call Connection contact our Technical Director via e-mail at the address below. In the Subject line of your e-mail, include the Event Reference Number and Registration ID Number (that we provided in our Registration Receipt e-mail), along with the date and time of your scheduled event. In the body of the e-mail, give several options for dates and times you are available for your test call. Our test calls are normally scheduled at 7:40 am, 2:40pm, and 3:10pm (Central Time Zone). Some additional times during the day may also be available.
EXAMPLE of e-mail “Subject” line – “Subject: 0411-027, ID132, 11/24/2003 9:00am TEST Call Request”

Test Call Connection or Connectivity Check – e-mail us at link below
dlntech@jsc.nasa.gov