Sally Ride EarthKAM event was conducted at Sri Venkateshwar InternationalSchool
A one-day Sally Ride EarthKAM event was conducted at Sri Venkateshwar InternationalSchool, Dwarka Sector- 18 on April 9, 2019under theUniverse In The School (UITS)program ofSPACE India. It is a unique scientific opportunity that enables students to participate in a space mission through the Sally Ride EarthKAM (Earth Knowledge Acquired by Middle school students) project, a NASA-sponsored education programme. It is an educational program that enables students to take pictures of their own planet from a digital camera on board the International Space Station (ISS) via a web interface and photograph locations of their choice on Earth from the perspective of space! The EarthKAM camera is till date a permanent payload on board the ISS and supports approximately four missions annually, one for each season. The recent mission was opened from April 9, 2019 to April 12, 2019.
DETAILS OF THE WORKSHOP:
The event took place in the senior computer lab of the school from 8:30 am- 10:30 am. 24 students from Classes VI participated in this workshop. Ms. Heena Bhatia, Senior Educator at SPACE India gave a presentation on Sally Ride EarthKAM and how the program works with a brief demonstration showing the students how to request for the photographs keeping various aspects such as orbital path, weather, location, day/night preference in mind.
Participants were given technical information and background regarding the ISS and were guided about selecting locations and submitting them through an interface, for subsequent photographing by a camera placed aboard the ISS. Students studied geographical features, environmental problems, climatic sciences, meteorological changes and results of natural phenomena and disasters like deforestation, glacier recession and coastline changes. During the process, they gained exposure of tools such as Google Earth, and learn about orbital mechanics and mapping.
To inspire and motivate the students, certificates were given by Ms. Nita Arora, Principal, Sri Venkateshwar International School and Ms. Vineet Tomar, Middle Wing HM, Sri Venkateshwar International School.
