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Find a mirror and look into it. The face you see staring back at you could be a Martian! Someday. No kidding. Engineers and scientists at NASA are working together on a plan that will make it possible for humans to visit and live on Mars some time in your lifetime! No, you won't turn green, but you might learn something that no one else has ever known. Sound exciting? Find out more about your space program right here.
As a teacher, summer is looked upon as a time of renewal, reflection, and relaxation. Thus far, I have had time for each, as well as continuing my involvement in teaching. Late in June I was on staff at the Delaware AeroSpace Education Foundation’s (www.dasef.org) Space Academy at the University of Delaware. This program is headed up by a remarkable person - Dr. Stephanie Wright. She was part of the original ‘Teacher in Space’ program, and has dedicated her time and energy to creating opportunities for children (and educators) to learn about aviation and aerospace. The Space Academy programs started by Dr. Wright nineteen years ago, offer learning experiences for children of all ages. If you live in the Delaware area, be sure to check out the website.
This week I was involved in running a workshop for teachers. It was a great group from my district, with an interest in and enthusiasm for space exploration. Several of the teachers who attended had been involved in celebrating Mars back in the springtime, with a special focus on Phoenix. They found that students were very excited about the red planet, and we are hoping that each year more of our teachers come on board to learn more about Mars.
Today’s workshop, Motivating Students through Space Exploration Activities, included making kites, learning about the culture of NASA mission patches, ‘astronaut training’ activities (working with gloves), and finding out more about extravehicular activities (EVA) or space walks. We also talked about the upcoming Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission, STS-125/SM4, LRO, and returning to the moon. Working with my colleagues is a very rewarding experience. We are all learners together, and as I share my knowledge and activities, the ‘participants’ build on ideas presented with their own thoughts for variations on the theme, and how to integrate what I share into their own curriculum. They came away with new enthusiasm, lessons and activities, and I came away with additional ideas for use in my classroom as well.
A unique event is slated during NASA's upcoming Lunar Science Conference being held at NASA's Ames Research Center later this month.
On July 20, members from the younger generation from four NASA Centers will discuss the future of space exploration. The panel is entitled "This is Your Future - Why the Moon?" - and is open to a variety of space topics.
The invitation is out for participants to submit questions to the panel online. The format is modeled after the CNN YouTube Debates. And if your video is selected, it will be aired at the event and discussed by the panel.
Instructions for submitting a video question:
1) Record your question. Include your name, location, and do keep your video under one minute.
Sign up to send your name to the moon. Names will be collected and placed onboard the LRO spacecraft for its historic mission bringing NASA back to the moon. The deadline is June 27th so sign up today!
ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Can you play sports in space? Challenger Center and Richard Garriott, the next civilian to fly into space, teams up with former NFL player and four time pro bowler, Ken Harvey and his company JAKA Consulting group to promote a series of fitness activities that students can do here on earth. Students can then send in a YouTube video with a prediction about what will happen when Richard Garriott performs them in space. Richard, son of Dr. Owen Garriott, a NASA astronaut who flew on the Skylab in the 1970's, plans to record a series of educational videos for students while on orbit to help demonstrate some of the basic physics that help astronauts live and work in the weightlessness of space. Ken Harvey has recorded a series of video clips for the Challenger Center's national website to show kids some basic moves like throwing, catching, blocking, jumping and kicking that Richard will replicate on orbit this October aboard the International Space Station...
Sign up to send your name to the moon. Names will be collected and placed onboard the LRO spacecraft for its historic mission bringing NASA back to the moon. You will also receive a certificate showcasing your support of the mission.
The deadline is July 25, 2008 for the submission of names.
LRO's objectives are to find safe landing sites, locate potential resources, characterize the radiation environment, and demonstrate new technology.
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As a teacher, summer is looked upon as a time of renewal, reflection, and relaxation. Thus far, I have had time for each, as well as continuing my involvement in teaching. Late in June I was on staff at the Delaware AeroSpace Education Foundation’s (
This week I was involved in running a workshop for teachers. It was a great group from my district, with an interest in and enthusiasm for space exploration. Several of the teachers who attended had been involved in celebrating Mars back in the springtime, with a special focus on Phoenix. They found that students were very excited about the red planet, and we are hoping that each year more of our teachers come on board to learn more about Mars.
Today’s workshop, Motivating Students through Space Exploration Activities, included making kites, learning about the culture of NASA mission patches, ‘astronaut training’ activities (working with gloves), and finding out more about extravehicular activities (EVA) or space walks. We also talked about the upcoming Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission, STS-125/SM4, LRO, and returning to the moon. Working with my colleagues is a very rewarding experience. We are all learners together, and as I share my knowledge and activities, the ‘participants’ build on ideas presented with their own thoughts for variations on the theme, and how to integrate what I share into their own curriculum. They came away with new enthusiasm, lessons and activities, and I came away with additional ideas for use in my classroom as well.;)
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