Monarchs in Space for the general public?

[Buglady]

I am not a teacher, and I don't feel the need to raise a monarch caterpillar in a container, because they can be found in abundance in my area at this time of year, and I much prefer to just see them in my garden. Even so, an insect lover, I am very curious to follow the progress of the caterpillars being sent into space. Which astronaut(s) will be in charge of caring for them? Will there be a diary of some kind documenting the caterpillars' growth and metamorphosis? Will there be photos?

I have looked on the Nasa website, and can find no mention of these caterpillars. Surely there must be some way that the public can follow the monarchs on their space adventure without having to purchase a kit. I'll bet there are plenty of other folks, including teachers who maybe found out about this program too late to send in an order, or don't have the money, but would still like to follow this experiment!

Please post any information and/or links that you know of which would allow the public to keep up with the Monarchs in Space!

[Mona Miller]

viewtopic.php?f=52&t=2107&p=10412#p10412
Jim posted this earlier.

[Mona Miller]

This was posted to dplex list serve:

Here are the official NASA pages for Orbital Tracking and Sightings info:

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/tracking/

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/

These links and other resources will be available on our Monarchs in Space project page at

http://monarchwatch.org/space

[Buglady]

Mona, thanks for your response. Maybe I'm just dense, but in following those links, I am not finding any information that tells me how I personally can follow the caterpillars' progress in space!

Is Nasa planning to post regular updates on the caterpillars>pupae>butterflies? Are the participating school classrooms the only ones who will have access to such information?

[Mona Miller]

http://www.monarchwatch.org/space/
Look in Background:
"Still and video cameras will continually capture images, which will be made available online."

November 16th is the launch date. No data because it hasn't launched.

[Buglady]

My concern lies under Plan B.
It states (empahsis mine):

If you participate in this program you will be able to follow the shuttle mission to the space station and the development of the monarchs in space for at least two weeks.

Are you saying even if we're not officially participating in the program, we will still be able to follow the caterpillars online? (I do realize it's too soon to see them right now!)

[Mona Miller]

If you log on to the appropriate website at the appropriate time, you will be able to follow the experiment. I'm assuming that the Monarch Watch personnel are very busy at this time sending out caterpillars kits to the participating schools. The shuttle doesn't take off until 11/16. Then there will be more information on line.

Stay tuned, the website says everyone will be able to view by video.

[Buglady]

Thank you!