| INEXPENSIVE SPACE SHUTTLE SIMULATORS Robert E. Morgan copyright, 1999 This material is copyrighted and may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the author. The terms "desktop simulation" and "tabletop simulation" are proprietary terms. |
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| Although this information describes building a space shuttle simulation facility, the concepts apply to developing
ANY type of simulation. There are many approaches to developing space shuttle simulators in the classroom that do not require an extensive and permanent facility. In this section we will provide some methods for developing classroom space shuttle simulators at little or no cost. Teachers who intend to develop space shuttle simulators must be prepared to devote their classroom or a portion of their classroom to the task. It's certainly possible to turn an entire classroom, temporarily, into a space shuttle simulator and include the major areas of the space shuttle and a mission control area. One advantage to turning an entire classroom into a shuttle simulator is that an entire class can be involved simultaneously in a simulated mission. The major disadvantage is that one loses the realism of the size of the space shuttle simulator. Most of the plans for shuttle simulators in this book are for simulators that approximate the size of the real space shuttle. Not all students can go into the simulator at one time, but over the course of time, every student can certainly have a turn. Even if you can't build a permanent full size space shuttle simulator, you can give students a sense of the size of the space shuttle. Using masking tape, tape the dimensions of the mid-deck living quarters to the floor in some large room, Then, in another area, tape the complete dimensions of the shuttle to give students an idea of its size. To give a sense of the compactness of the mid-deck living quarters, build its walls out of cardboard. For a really stable building use "tri-wall" cardboard, a special 3-ply reinforced cardboard available through packaging companies. The result is a structure which students can walk into and develop a feel for the compactness of the living quarters on board the space shuttle. Since up to seven astronauts use this area, it is really limited. Putting students into the area one at a time until you reach seven will give students a clear indication of how cramped the quarters really are. DESKTOP SIMULATION (c), TABLETOP SIMULATION (c) In fact, simulations can be very simple. The concept of Desktop Simulation (c) provides a quick, yet effective method for space shuttle simulation and can be used for other types of simulations. The major premise of the concept is quite simply: using a desktop or tabletop, one can create a practical, usable simulator. Here are the steps for developing a simulation of the space shuttle main controls of the flight deck. 1. Obtain a number of foamboard panels. Any size around the dimensions of three feet by two feet is appropriate. Larger or smaller sizes may be used depending on what is available. If foamboard is not available, thick cardboard, reinforced poster board, or other strong material will do nicely. 2. Obtain or create supports for the foamboard or whatever material you are using. Typically, these are triangular supports like picture frame supports. They can be purchased or made from scrap cardboard. 3. Mount the supports to the foamboard to create the freestanding panel or panels. 4. Mount photographs or pictures of controls that you have cut out from airplane or space magazines. If you can buy space shuttle magazines or books and are willing to cut controls from them, you can have more realistic controls. 5. Arrange the panels in a manner to your liking, but we suggest the presence of a video monitor in the center of the arrangement. If you can include a computer monitor, all the better. The video monitor can show views of the earth from space or any other video which is appropriate to your simulation. The computer monitor (or monitors) can show computer programs that simulate space shuttle activities. 6. The result is a workable space shuttle simulator on a tabletop. In another area of the room you could do the same for a mission control area. 7. Enhancements of many types could be added to the simulator. If you can get several CB radios, you can set up real radio communications between mission control and the space shuttle. If you can get short-range radios with wearable headsets, you can give kids the real feel of being in a mission control area. 8. There are several alternate methods of producing panels for use in your simulator. Rather than cut materials from books, you could have students draw the panels. This method increases student involvement and permits custom design of your simulator or more control over reproducing the panels realistically. 9. For real sophistication, obtain some switches and lights or other surplus electronic equipment and mount them into the panels. It's easy to cut holes in foamboard panels to allow for mounting of equipment. The beauty of this method is that students actually have switches to throw and buttons to push. For real authenticity, wire the switches to the light bulbs so that switches turn on lights. The sophistication of your simulation can be simple and inexpensive or as complex as your resources permit. MORE ELABORATE SHUTTLE SIMULATORS The concept of Desktop Simulation (c) provides an inexpensive route to simulating activities in the classroom. It's also a relatively quick way to develop a simulator. It's possible to go even farther, however. One approach is to expand on the desktop simulation. By enclosing the area around the desktop, you begin to give a feel of area. The space shuttle is, after all, a relatively small and enclosed area. The feeling of being enclosed is really an important part of the simulation. When we do 24-hour missions, one of our areas of concern is how students will react to closed-in conditions. So, you can make your simulator as closed in as you want. The same foamboard or tri-wall cardboard can be used to make simple partial walls or other panels related to the space shuttle flight deck. Obviously, you could have two or three or more desks for various simulations of the shuttle flight deck. You might also have another area for the mid- deck of the space shuttle and yet another area for mission control, It is not too difficult to build a temporary or semi-permanent enclosed structure for space shuttle simulation. The simplest structure is made of cardboard or cardboard boxes taped together. Even if your cardboard space shuttle doesn't have a ceiling, an enclosed area that is roughly the dimensions of the space shuttle flight deck adds enormously to the realism of the simulator. If you can get to the point of adding a roof, so much the better. Remember that with any enclosed structure, you want to provide plenty of ventilation and easy means of exiting. One of the best materials for cardboard construction is tri-wall cardboard that is very thick and very strong. An easy way to construct a real size space shuttle simulator is to utilize two existing walls and build a frame for the remaining wall and ceiling from PVC pipe. Once you've constructed a PVC pipe frame, you can line the framework with plastic material, For total realism, you can use white plastic so that even the outside looks like the shuttle. By using the same plastic inside, you can inexpensively create a shuttle flight deck that is realistic in size and appearance. A warning: be sure your structure won't collapse so that no one is smothered in plastic. Provide plenty of ventilation. Tape in pieces of clear plastic far windows. You can also use desks and tables as supports for computer and videotape monitors so that you can recreate the electronics of the simulator as well. Another simulated space activity using the above techniques is to have students design and build a space station using large cardboard boxes and tubes. You can make your own tubes from rolled heavy paper or make your "tubes" rectangular structures built from tri-wall or other heavy cardboard. Large tubes are also available from carpeting stares. Design the "space station" so that students can crawl from place to place through the tubes. As always, be sure you provide adequate ventilation at all points. Of course, all of these techniques can be applied to the construction of moon vehicles, moon bases, interstellar exploration ships, and bases on other planets. Our space shuttle simulator has been a Mars voyager and an interplanetary explorer as well as a space shuttle. |
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