Project Deep Tape

With the new school year getting started the story about this roll should help get OM'ers back into the swing of things. Problem : Compare and contrast the 4462 meters below sea level this roll and styrofoam cup were. To the 205 miles above sea level, the Duct Tape from the ISS and signed by 15 astronauts.

In 2007 Turtle Haste, a science teacher in Albuquerque, NM (that I got to know while I was working to get a roll of Duct Tape from Phil Jacobsen in Antarctica, another story for later) went on a one week trip for teachers with NOAA that summer. She knew about the Duct Tape from the ISS and in true OM fashion came up the idea to send a roll down on the CTD (Conductivity - Temperature - Depth recorder) that the ship used for its research.

Here you can see the CTD scientific instrument and I say that because this thing takes extremely accurate readings of electrical conductivity, temperature and depth. No idea how expensive it is but would think plenty! Anyhow below the cylinders you can see a mesh bag loaded with "stuff" that the teachers wanted to see what the pressure at the bottom would do to it. Sounds like great OM fun.

Here is the roll of Duct Tape that Turtle sent down 4462 meters below sea level plus several styrofoam cups.

Flat Stanley? If you turn your head you can see two cups that were exposed to the ocean pressure at 4462 meters next to a regular cup. How much pressure?  Well for every 10.06 meters down, the pressure increases by 14.5 psi (1 bar). So have some "serious fun" and figure it out then when someone asks you what you did this summer you will have something unique to tell them. Thanks to Turtle Haste, a teacher in Albuquerque, NM  and a roll of Duct Tape!

 

What are the chances?

Google  Matthew Gast EVA  and you can read his 11-13-08 interview he did about the work he does as an EVA (extravehicular activities) Trainer.


Believe it or not last Friday 6-13-14 I am in my pole shed working on a little project for the Duct Tape collection to bring to OM World Finals next year. Into the driveway pulls a car and out jumps the guy that has handled my insurance and investments for the last year and a half. He was in the area, it was a nice day, he had some time and thought he would just drop in. He asks, "What are you working on?"

My former advisor retired from the company a year and a half ago and Matt his replacement. I told Matt that I was working on my Duct Tape collection. He was puzzled, but he was interested and I began to explain the collection and pointed to the U.S. and World maps in the shed surrounded with all the rolls of Duct Tape. He was impressed and I explained to him how I had some extra special Duct Tape to show him. Duct Tape from the International Space Station (ISS - 13 mission) signed by 15 astronauts!

As I show Matt the tape he says to me, "I told you I worked for NASA didn't I?" I said no I didn't know that. I asked how long? Matt tells me he worked for them from 1999 to 2011. Then as he looks at the astronauts signatures on the Duct Tape from STS - 115 and 121 missions he says, "I know these guys. I worked with them in the NBL (Neutral Buoyancy Lab) in Huston as a trainer working with them to build the ISS." I am dumb founded to say the least! The he shows his arm and the tattoo he got while working at the NBL. This is the real deal! NASA has a great web site and lots of information on the NBL and what goes on there if you want to read more about it. It's awesome!

I am looking forward to learning and sharing more of the stories of future Duct Tape collections and the people involved. Keep thinking how you might help get a roll from a country not on the list.
  
I ask you, really, "What are the chances?"