Introduction
On Mission Day, the students should be prepared
with solid background information about the overall mission.
They will have had specific training in their particular team
assignment, or “area of expertise.” Prior to the
official start of the mission, the Flight Director will review
communication protocols with the Communications Team. This
will help facilitate a smooth exchange of information, both
verbally and via the chat window. Once the mission begins,
the Flight Director at Mission Control will provide the students
with a brief overview and introduction to their tasks. They
will be introduced to the crew prior to liftoff, and then
the mission will get under way.
General Story Line
On mission day, students watch as the space
shuttle lifts off and astronauts repair a satellite. The satellite
immediately begins broadcasting data about volcanic activity
on Montserrat in the Caribbean. Twelve thousand residents
await the ERTs' scientific analysis of the situation. The
tension grows when it appears that a hurricane is on course
for the Island. In a two-hour period student volcano teams
and hurricane teams rally to analyze the data and determine
the risks to the people of the Island. Throughout the mission,
Mission Control is in live contact with your students - see,
hear, and "chat."
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