1985 Part 6
A Most Special Student
August, 1985
August, 1985
Hi!
She could be seen floating along in the upper deck by the windows, Earth and Discovery's cargo bay were visible behind her. As she spoke, she would glance occasionally below herself, and as her soft, New England accent filled the space, the excitement in her eyes was unmistakeable.
I'm Christa McAulliffe, and we...are onboard the Space Shuttle Discovery, and today, we're going to be sending a space probe, called Galileo off to Jupiter.
But, I won't be alone up here today, as my crewmates and I-
You can hear as several voices shout up from below, greeting the intended audience.
-ha, my crewmates and I have brought up a very special friend with us today, someone I think you will all know very well...so why don't you come on up here friend!
You hear a slight shuffling, and the camera shakes; clearly, someone is coming up from below.
Now, he had a rough ride this morning so don't mind him he's a bit grump-oh haha Big Bird! You're so tiny! What happened?
The face of Big Bird finally comes into view, his big orange feet revealing his face as he tumbles in zero-g. He's noticeably squatter and pudgier, like he got compressed into a flight suit.
Oh jeeze...well, that's spaceflight for you.
How so Big Bird?
Yeah, those nice scientist people told me this would happen; us birds get all squeezed up in space, but they said once were back, I'll spring up just like a flower! Woah!
He was still tumbling a bit, obviously struggling to stay still.
Hey! Wait a minute, how come you aren't all squeezed up like me?
Well, for us, humans its actually the other way around. When we're in space like this for a long time, our bones and muscles begin to relax, and we actually get a little bit taller.
Oh wow! Is that forever?
No, it goes back to normal, but we have to be careful. You see, that's why we keep exercising when we're in space; we have to keep our muscles strong or they'll get so weak we won't be able to stand up when we go back to Earth.
Oh, I love exercise!
Me too! Now Big Bird; Do you know why we came up here today?
Um...no? Yeah no they just kinda took me out of my nest in the middle of the night. I thought that was weird.
Laughs could be heard from down below, and Christa couldn't help but giggle.
Hehe well, come over and look out this window with me!
Big Bird, with Christa's help, moved towards the window and stabilized himself on the controls. The person recording followed behind them, switching between the two as they spoke.
Oh...oh wow.
Carol Spinney, who could see through the special mask that had been made for him, was obviously taken aback at the view; he hadn't been able to look out a window since they reached orbit. Incidentally, Christa had not either, aside from a few glances, as she would tell it in later years.
Isn't it beautiful? Look-that's New York right there, and ooh here comes Greenland!
Wow...
Spinney had to be nudged to get back into character
This is so great. It's so...small yet it's so big! I wonder if I can see my nest from up here?
Well, if you could you'd have better eyesight than all of us Big Bird.
Oh, it is kind of faraway isn't it.
That it is, but do you see what's in the cargo bay there?
She gestured at Galileo; the silvery skin of the Centaur was reflecting the sun a bit, and the gaseous hydrogen could be seen venting off near the rear of the orbiter.
Oooh, what's that?
That is Galileo Big Bird. It's a space probe that we're sending to Jupiter.
To Jupiter? But isn't that...that like 50 gergillion miles away?
It's actually 365 million miles away right now.
Golly thats a big number. Whats it gonna do over there?
Yes, it is. Well, Galileo here is going to be learning about the atmosphere in Jupiter; how its air and weather and storms all work and interact with each other. We can't see it now, but there's also another little probe in there that's going to be launched into Jupiter itself, so we can see what the atmosphere is made out of. We already have a good idea, but because we're going there we're going to be able to know for sure. And the most exciting part, we're going to be taking lots and lots of pictures!
Aww I wish I could go there with it!
Well Big Bird, in a way, you can. We can't strap into to Galileo like we did Discovery, but we can launch her, and that's the next best thing. So, what do you say, do you wanna help me?
Are you sure? I don't want to break anything...
Oh don't worry Big Bird, I'll get it set up for you...all you have to do is press the button.
Okay! I can do that.
For a few minutes Big Bird just looks out the window as Christa prepares the Centaur for release. As the footage goes on, Galileo and the Centaur can be seen moving up into its release position, before it as finally ready, and Houston finally gave the go-ahead for release.
Alright Big Bird, are you ready?
Huh? Oh right! Okay, what button is it?
Christa guided his wing to the button that needed to be pressed.
Okay Big Bird, on 3. 1....2.....3!
A small jolt was heard as the Centaur was released, and Galileo began floating up and away from the Orbiter.
Wow there it goes! Gee wiz it seems to be going kinda slow...won't it take a long time to get to Jupiter?
It would, but you see that big silvery thing in the back? That's called the Centaur; it's a rocket that, once it's a safe distance away from us, is going to fire to send Galileo on its way direct to Jupiter. If all goes well, we think it'll get there sometime next year.
Oh I get it! Its kinda like the car that Galil...gali....Galileo! is gonna ride in?
That's right Big Bird! Now, we have one last thing to do.
We do?
Oh yes! We have to tell Houston that everything went well of course. Do you want to do the honors?
The what?
Do you want to tell Houston? You get to use the radio!
She held up the headset she was wearing.
Well sure! What do I say?
Just say this exactly as I say it okay? Houston, Discovery. And then, when they respond back, just say Galileo is away.
Ok got it!
She placed the headset on his head.
Okay....go!
Houston, Discovery.
Houston responded back.
Uh Houston, this is Big Bird. Galileo is away!
Christa congratulated him. The transmission would be the first time the general public was made aware that Big Bird was on the flight. The footage at this point cuts off, before coming back; a day had passed in orbit.
Good morning Big Bird! We have a lot to do today! You see our friend Ellis here with the camera?
You can see him? I thought I was imagining him like they tell me back on Sesame Street.
Yes, I can see him silly. Well, he's filming us today because we're going to be doing some fun experiments to teach students back on Earth. Do you like magnets?
Oh you bet I do! I've been told I had a magnet in my head once though I didn't get the joke...
The footage continues. Christa and Big Bird work together on the various experiments. Occasionally members of the crew would step in to help, though notably absent would-be Commander Scobee, who opted not to participate until the last day when Christa worked alone, giving a high school level lecture on Jupiter; she would take the camera with her and basically bug Scobee into talking with her about the mission. Carol Spinney, as himself, would also come on occasionally when taking breaks from the rather sweltering costume. By the last day he had fully adapted to space, and was in much brighter spirits than his first few hours on orbit, which were a struggle for him even without the Big Bird costume.
STS 30 would land back at Kennedy Space Center on August 21st, 1985, to be met by President Ronald Reagan, who awarded McAuliffe and Big Bird (and Spinney, conspicuously absent) the Presidential Medal of Freedom for their successful mission. The first of the Teacher in Space Missions, STS 30 was such a resounding success that the second mission, with Barbara Morgan, was moved up to December, to coincide with the Halley Armada mission.