Science Center Talk about OSIRUS-Rex.

Posted on by Thor

At Live from Orlando, It’s Science Night Live! Out of this World Space Edition! at the Orlando Science Center, (777 E Princeton St, Orlando, FL 32803), Dr. Campins spoke about OSIRIS-REx, is an exploratory spacecraft which will intersect with asteroid Bennu to collect surface dust to be returned to Earth for analysis. He showed slides of the spacecraft’s sterile construction. The craft has been in it’s Outbound Cruise Phase since Sept. 8, 2016. Bennu is about 600 feet in diameter which means it rotates slow enough so that surface dust should be still intact..

It Completed Earth-Trojan Asteroid Search around the L4 Earth-sun Lagrange Point on Feb. 20, 2017.  Although no new Earth Trojans were discovered,
the spacecraft’s camera operated flawlessly and demonstrated that it
could image objects two magnitudes dimmer than originally expected.

Completed six-month instrument calibrations in March 2017.

Live from Orlando, It’s Science Night Live! Out of this World Space Edition!

Posted on by Thor

At Live from Orlando, It’s Science Night Live! Out of this World Space Edition, held at at Orlando Science Center, (777 E Princeton St, Orlando, FL 32803.) Dr. Campins spoke to guests at Science on a Sphere (the floating orb on Level 4) for about an hour before his official presentation talking about the OSIRUs-REx mission one-on-one with people. This mission sending a satellite to intercept an  asteroid approaching to Earth. When the craft gets close enough an arm will extend and and slap the  asteroid will raise particles which will then be Earth. The composition should give hints about the earliest history the solar system.

Dr. Campins instrumental in bringing the project to reality. target asteroid is named Bennu which is a B-type asteroid with a 500 meter
diameter. It completes an orbit around the Sun every 1.2
years and every 6 years comes very close to Earth.
These close encounters give Bennu a high probability of impacting Earth
in the late 22nd century. Bennu’s size, primitive composition, and
potentially hazardous orbit make it one of the most fascinating and
accessible Near-Earth Objects and the ideal OSIRIS-REx target asteroid.

A tall woman made hand shadow puppets on the globe as people asked questions mission.

Hearts at the Science Center

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After the horrible loss of life at Pulse, the Orlando Science Center started a community art project in which guests created origami hearts in each of the colors of the rainbow. These hearts were then assembled an hung on strings. There had to be thousands of hearts. The plan was to hang all these hearts in the glass encased walkway between the garage and the Science Center. The strings of hearts were arranged and hung from pvc which was then hung in the walkway rafters. The final result was a spectacular rainbow of hearts leading to the Science Center entrance.

On this day museum staff were taping hearts to strings on their lunch break. Many hands made for small work with plenty of socializing. Clearly this break room is also used for birthday celebrations. I believe it is one of the science classrooms.

Drip Drop Splash at the Orlando Science Center.

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I went in to sketch the new Kids Town as it was being constructed once a week this past October. Drip Drop Splash has three illuminated water columns with hand cranks. When the cranks are turned by kids the water rises up and trickles down a series of blue kite shaped shingles. The water empties into a clear bowl and then rains down into a round pool below. It is possible to crawl under this pool reception and stand up in a donuts hole opening in the middle. Standing the r it is possible to be surounded by rain, yet remain perfectly dry.

Water cascade down from this center pool down three ramps which each have a maze of mind bending inventions. Kids can plumb and divert the water or build a series of dams. Each Rube Goldberg contraption teaches the kids how to harness and use the power of water.

At this point in the construction plumbing was still being worked out. Workers joked with each other calling each other “Cuz”. Walls were being painted and things fell together quickly. Kids Town is now open at the Orlando Science Center (777 E Princeton St, Orlando, FL 32803) and trust me, the kids love it.

The da Vinci Robot at Otronicon.

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The Orlando Science Center (777 E Princeton St, Orlando, FL 32803) hosts Otronicon each year. Otronicon is a celebration of interactive technology that takes place
each January at the Orlando Science Center. It offers a glimpse into the
future and a demonstration of how interactive technology will impact how
we work, learn and play. At Otronicon, guests walk on the cutting edge
through state of the art video games, digital media, digital art, and
workshops – not to mention military and medical simulators typically not
available to the public.

The da Vinci Surgical System is a robotic surgical system made by the American company Intuitive Surgical. Approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2000, it is designed to facilitate complex surgery using a minimally invasive approach, and is controlled by a surgeon from a console. The system is commonly used for prostatectomies, and increasingly for cardiac valve repair and gynecologic surgical procedures like hysterectomies. According to the manufacturer, the da Vinci System is called “da Vinci” in part because Leonardo da Vinci’s “study of human anatomy eventually led to the design of the first known robot in history.”

 If you have a passion for technology, simulators, and video games in general, mark your calendars for the most interactive technology expo in Central Florida – Otronicon. This event takes the world of video games and simulation, and transforms them into in-depth immersive experiences.

There will also be classes in video game creation, as well as exclusive peeks at simulators created by experts in the field. This is the one weekend when the Orlando Science Center leaves its doors open for extended evening hours, so be sure to plan on experiencing all of the interactive fun at Otronicon.

Otronicon will run from January 13th to 16th, 2017. 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (All Ages)
Tickets are available online.

Climb Time Construction

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I returned to the Orlando Science Center, (777 East Princeton Street Orlando Fl 32803) to sketch the continuing construction on the Climb Time area of the New Kids Town. I was amazed at how much the structure had progressed in just one week. I was committed to doing one sketch a week, but felt that a sketch a day would have been needed to get a full time lapse effect of the constructions evolution.

The hard hat was still needed since there was overhead wall work and construction still going on. The construction foreman kept an eye on me to be sure I was safe and not in the way. Mostly the structure was complete with just a few tweaks needed to be sure it was study and ready for the endless stress of children at play.

Each green pillar was very heavy and required three workman to maneuver it into place. All that remained now was a few protective screens that needed to be secured.

This series of sketches was commissioned as possible gifts for people who donated money for this 5 million dollar expansion to the museum. For me it was fun to see how the construction. Site changed week to week. Workers got used to my presence and they liked to glance over my shoulder to see if they had been captured. When they recognized a coworker they would rib him, saying that the reason he made it into the sketch was because he was standing around and doing nothing. Every worker however was constantly in motion. Progress was insanely fast.

Kids invade the Orange Grove.

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With construction complete on the New Kids Town in the Orlando Science Center, (777 East Princeton St, Orlando, FL 32803) I returned on a Saturday to the Orange Grove to see how kids like the new play area.To say the liked it is a understatement. Kids love this play area. Parents waited by sitting on d bench that separated a much smaller toddler’s play area from the orange grove. A bicycle that looks like a tractor is used to power a conveyor belt lift that brings the orange balls up to an elevated ramp. A hand peddle powers a second lift. All of these balls roll it a large water tower with the Dr. Phillips logo on it. Some balls then roll down other ramps to fall behind the bulbous plastic trees where holes allow the “fruit” to be picked. When the water tower is full of balls, an alarm goes off and warning light flash. Kids learn like Pavlovian pets to run to the tower where all the balls fall all at once out of the tower. Kids hold up collecting trays and their bare hands in hopes of catch in as much as they can.

There are conveyor belts that transport the balls through machines this must act as cleaners. A truck can be loaded up to transport the “fruit” to market. It is amazing how competitive Kids become to gather up as much “fruit” as they can. The final stop is y fresh fruit market. A girl rushing towards the market with a box full o oranges knocked the sketch boo out of my lap without missing a beat. Besides the oranges, there over other pillory fruits like watermelons. Several parents returned to there waiting be n and the wife signaled over to me to let me know they were in the same spot to be sketched.

Orange Grove Construction.

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Each day I sketched at the Orlando Science Center‘s new Kids Zone construction site, I was issued a hard hat at the front admissions desk. The day I stopped in to sketch the Orange Grove, it looked close to being complete. The construction foreman let me know that the hard hat wasn’t needed since there was no overhead work being done. Large plastic sheets still isolated the construction site so museum goers couldn’t see the progress.

Only one young construction worker was doing minor work in the grove. He stood in a window of light, and inspected the elevated rails that would late transport oranges around the room. The oranges were orange balls and there were a few green balls as well. The bulbous plastic trees were ripe with fruit. Balls would automatically feed into openings in the trees waiting to be picked. A ladder was needed to get up high and check that the ramps were secure.

I went back to the grove several days ago when it was filled with children. This quiet scene suddenly became a scene of chaos. Kids were running everywhere, picking fruit and getting it to market. One little girl ran right into me, knocking my sketchbook to the floor. She was in a rush to get a box of balls to the market. If you have children, trust me, the will love the new Kids Zone.

New Kids Town construction at the Orlando Science Center.

Posted on by Thor

For the past several months [ have been going to the Orlando Science Center (777 E Princeton St, Orlando, FL 32803) once a week, to sketch the five million dollar construction of the New Kids Town. A company in Ohio designed all the interactive exhibits. Seven rooms were constructed to house the huge play areas. The first area under construction consisted of a maze of green metal support rods. The inner skeleton was still visible. Each support beam was numbered and a large architects drawing was consulted to see which beam went where.

A Genie lift was used to get up high or some times to suport a horizontal beam before it was secured. Workers climbed ladders and walked the beams like tightrope walkers. I was issued a hard hat and it came in useful since I had to duck to avoid a beam being lifted into place. Above me, a worker was sparkling wall joints a the supervisor advised me to move aside for a while. I took his advice because he had my safety in mind.

Workers looked over my shoulder, to see if they had been caught in the sketch. One worker told me about a friend of his who made decent money doing tattoos. Perhaps I’ve missed my calling. I could imagine this Climb Time area will be very popular once the kids get a chance to explore it.

The Last Neanderthal Ball.

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I went to the last Neanderthal Ball at the Orlando Science Center (777 E Princeton St, Orlando, FL 32803). In preparation for the ball I painted a black bow tie using some of Linda Sarasino‘s acrylic paint with a tiger pattern. I also put on a pair of tiger socks, but I don’t think anyone ever saw those. I entered , I entered the venue early and found a stand up table with a decent view across the room. My table was right next to a hoop suspended from the ceiling. That means I would have a front row seat for the female performer who was suspended and poured drinks. It was difficult to ignore her as I sketched the overall scene.  As cavemen and women entered the venue, I added them to the sketch. 

Running with Scissors performed cover songs on the main stage. Dancing to Eagles songs isn’t easy. But I tried. The MC remembered me from last year and he asked me information about what I do. I gave him my card and gave him my rundown about doing a sketch a day to cover arts and culture in Central Florida. I was amazed when he gave me a major plug from the main stage microphone, inviting everyone to take a look at my sketch in progress. When I was done, I left the sketchbook open on the table. Linda chatted with Wendy Wallenberg, who was wearing giant pink earmuffs as a head dress, and a pink fur vest. For the fashion show, she acted shocked and horrified be all 1 modern lights. It was a nice touch. She won a bottle of champagne for being one of the best dressed cave women. 

One caveman went all out on his fashion accessories. He had a uni-brow and wild woolly hair. He carried a big club, and the clincher was his performance during the fashion show. He kept his knees bent and moved as if on the prowl. He walked right up to the female judges and looked at them quizzically, bending his head to the side like a dog. Then he sniffed the air trying to catch a whiff of their perfume. He got a standing oration. Actually, everyone was already standing, but they did clap for him the loudest. 

Michael McLeod entered the fashion show, but, besides his Armani suit, the only accessory was a zebra bow tie. It did put my blunt hand painted tie to shame. He strutted the dance floor, opening his suit to show off the Armani label. Wendi had a zebra hat for Michael to wear, but it was vetoed. So many tables were reserved, probably for corporate sponsors, but I don’t think those signs had much meaning. After the awards, the evening quickly wound down. Leaving the parking lot, I forgot to turn on my headlights. A caveman blinked his headlights at me from behind as I waited at a red light. I made nothing of it. Then he drove up beside me going north on Orlando Avenue. He honked and pointed at my front bumper. It finally dawned on me what he was trying to communicate. I waved and gave him a thumbs up as I flipped on the lights. He gave me a thumbs up in return and drove off. Cavemen look out for each other.