When my Freshman Physical Science students were asked to identify a piece of technology they could not live without, I was thinking their responses would be clean drinking water, shelter, safe food supply...BOY was I WRONG! Their cell phone was the number one response to my question. Cell phones have become an essential and necessary part of every day life. It is a challenge to NOT use our cell phones in a 42 minute class period - can you IMAGINE the challenge of NOT using my cell phone for 6 weeks???
Cellular phones are actually radios - very sophisticated radios! They receive their signal from a cell phone tower. Cell phones got their name because the land is divided into "cells" (just like your body is made of cells - or small compartments). There is a cell tower in the center of each cell. If there is not a cell tower in your area, there is no cellular phone service. Well...there are NO cell towers in the Arctic!!! So a cellular phone is NOT going to work!! To read more about cell phones, check out "How Stuff Works". http://www.howstuffworks.com/cell-phone.htm
As the Healy was approaching the Distributed Biological Observatory, we were very near Barrow, Alaska. We were within cell tower range! I was able to use my cell phone to call Addie, Andrie and Brian! That was a surprise! I was also again surprised when we were within three miles of Nome, Alaska and I was able to again make calls home. Twice during this voyage, I have had cell phone coverage!
I actually had cellphone service TWICE while at sea!
So...if I am on a ship in the Arctic, and my cell phone doesn't work (most of the time)...how am I able to make a call? The Iridium satellite phone!! This phone does not rely on cell phone towers, instead it sends and recieves it's signal from a satellite in space! The Iridium satellite system is a network of 66 satellites that provide global communication coverage. These satellites are in low Earth orbit at about 485 miles from the surface of the Earth! The Healy is also equipped with IMMARSAT and VSAT capabilities. When making a call, the phone looks like a regular telephone. You have to dial a special access code, then the number you are trying to reach!
There is a special place in my heart for all things "space". Many of you are aware, I am a Pathfinder Astronaut trainee with the Teachers in Space program. I have been training for my suborbital commercial spaceflight since 2009. You can check out the program at http://teachersinspace.org/
Special thank you to fellow Pathfinders Mr. James Kuhl's and Mr. Mike Schmidt's classes for following this expedition!
One of Mr. Mike Schmidt's classes in Tucson Arizona
Mr.Schmidt's classes and their shrunken cup with a standard pencil for reference
So anyway, YOU can see satellites that are in low Earth orbit with your NAKED eye!! Once you train your eyes to "see satellites" - you will be able to pick them out of the night sky easily!! The International Space Station is one of my family's favorites to "spot in the sky". The Iridium satellites are cool because they "flare" - or give off a flash of light. This is more difficult to observe - but some people have become experts at it! To find out what satellites are flying over your head, go to http://spaceweather.com/flybys/
It seems my students LOVE reading the food journals, so I will post a picture of our incredible lunch today. The Cooks aboard the Healy really know how to cook! It was Surf and Turf day...the menu was steak, lobster tail, augratin potatoes, vegetables, fried oysters, fried clam strips, clam bisque, salad bar and peach cobbler.
Surf and Turf for lunch...not like school lunch for sure!
Yesterday, we reached the St Lawrence (SL) line and began to sample. The stations are about 40 nautical miles apart, so it will take us a while to complete this line. Yesterday was also my LAST time to clean the “heads” in the main lab. Each person in the Science party had to clean the bathroom three times over this course of this trip. I am officially finished cleaning toilets!!
My LAST time to clean the Main Lab heads!
It was pretty gloomy in the Bering Sea...very cloudy, but it did snow for a while and that was quite nice!
A storm is heading to the Bering- no sun today!
Question of the Day
Find another interesting fact about cell phones and write it in your journal.
Stay tuned as we continue our exciting voyage on the USCG Cutter Healy. Until then...
“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” Mohandas Gandhi