May 26 2010
From The Space Library
RELEASE: 10-289
NASA'S 'KIDS IN MICRO-G' PROGRAM SEEKS SCIENCE SUBMISSIONS FOR 2011
HOUSTON -- NASA's Kids in Micro-g challenge is accepting proposals from students in fifth through eighth grades to design a classroom experiment that also can be performed by astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Proposals are due by Dec. 8. The experiments should examine the effect of weightlessness on various subjects: liquids, solids, the law of physics and humans. The experiments are expected to have observably different results in microgravity than in the classroom. The apparatus for the experiments must be constructed using materials from a special tool kit aboard the station. The kit contains items commonly found in classrooms for science experiments. The experiments must take 30 minutes or less to set up, run and take down. "This is a wonderful program that gives students the opportunity to have their experiments carried out in space by astronauts, said Mark Severance, ISS national laboratory education projects manager at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. The students will compare the results of experiments conducted in the classroom with those conducted in the microgravity environment of the International Space Station. A panel of microgravity scientists, classroom teachers, NASA education and station operations personnel will select the winner and five runners-up. Their experiments will be performed on the orbiting laboratory next spring. During this past summer, astronauts performed nine student experiments aboard the space station. NASA selected those experiments from 132 submissions. To learn more about how to submit proposals for the 2011 challenge, contact the ISS Payloads Office at jsc-iss-payloads-helpline@mail.nasa.gov or call: 281-244-6187. More information about the challenge and other NASA education programs also is available at: http://www.nasa.gov/education
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RELEASE: 10-165
NASA SELECTS STUDENT EXPERIMENTS FOR INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
HOUSTON -- NASA has selected nine experiments, designed by students at seven schools, for astronauts to perform on the International Space Station this summer. NASA selected the proposals from among 132 received for the new Kids in Micro-g! Program. This is the pilot year for the program, a student experiment design challenge geared toward grades five through eight. Its purpose is to give students a hands-on opportunity to design experiments or simple demonstrations for testing both in the classroom and in the station's microgravity environment. The winners were chosen by a team of representatives from NASA's 10 field centers. "What a wonderful experience for these kids to have their experiments carried out in space and by astronauts, said Mark Severance, International Space Station National Laboratory Education projects manager at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. This gives students the chance to see what happens differently, other than in the classroom, when their experiment is performed in an environment that is not on Earth. The schools chosen to participate are: -- National Winner and NASA Glenn Research Center Regional Winner Brownell Middle, Grosse Point Farms, Mich. -- National Runner-up and NASA Kennedy Space Center Regional Winner Vaughan Elementary, Powder Springs, Ga. -- NASA Ames Research Center Regional Winner Hamlin School, San Francisco -- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Regional Winners (tie) East Hartford-Glastonbury Magnet, East Hartford, Conn. Carl Sandburg Middle, Old Bridge, N.J. -- NASA Kennedy Space Center Regional Winner Windy Ridge Elementary, Orlando, Fla. -- NASA Langley Research Center Regional Winner Virginia Academy, Ashburn, Va. The experiments will study the effect of weightlessness on various subjects such as humans and liquids and other materials, as well as what the environment reveals about the laws of physics. The experiments are expected to have observably different results in microgravity than when performed in the classroom. The apparatus for the experiments was constructed using the same materials as a tool kit previously provided to astronauts on the space station. The materials in the tool kit are commonly found in the classroom and used for science demonstrations. The proposed experiments or demonstrations are required to take no more than 30 minutes to set up, run and take down. This fall, the program will ask for proposals for 2011. To see a list of this year's selected Kids in Micro-g! experiments, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/452456main_Kids_In_Micro_g_Final_Results.pdf
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RELEASE: 10-087
NASA SELECTS COMMUNITY COLLEGE SCHOLARS FOR CHANCE TO DESIGN SPACE ROVERS, VISIT JOHNSON SPACE CENTER
WASHINGTON -- Seventy-six students from community colleges in 28 states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico have been selected to travel to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, May 20-22, for an out-of-this-world experience. They will participate in a three-day on-site event to develop robotic explorers that will rove the surfaces of other worlds. This event is the culmination of the National Community College Aerospace Scholars pilot program. Students completed four Web-based assignments during the school year. Those who maintained a 95 average qualified for the experience at Johnson. NASA will pay the students' travel expenses. They will apply what they have learned during the year after interacting with NASA engineers and learn more about careers in science and engineering. Program participants will form teams and establish fictitious companies interested in Mars exploration during the event. Each team will be responsible for developing a prototype rover, designing a line drawing of their rover, and forming a company infrastructure, including budget, communications and presentations. The on-site experience includes a tour of Johnson facilities and briefings from NASA employees, including astronauts. "This represents another innovative NASA project whereby community college students engage in actual engineering design and production ? from concept to build-out ? that simulate the process NASA uses in designing robotic explorers for solar system destinations, said Joyce Winterton, associate administrator for Education at NASA Headquarters in Washington. It successfully demonstrates and furthers the participants' academic knowledge in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, The students represent Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. "NASA is very proud of the outstanding work these students already have completed, and we look forward to seeing their rover designs, said Deborah Hutchings, the program manager at Johnson. These students have a unique opportunity to preview how a career in science, technology, engineering or math can lead them on a journey of space exploration. The National Community College Aerospace Scholars is a pilot program based on the Texas Aerospace Scholars, a program created by the state of Texas in partnership with Johnson and the Texas education community. Both programs are designed to encourage community and junior college students to enter careers in science and engineering, and join the nation's high technology workforce. With this program, NASA continues the agency's investment in the nation's students with a goal of attracting them to the science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines critical to NASA's future missions. For a complete list of the students selected and the community colleges they represent, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/offices/education/programs/descriptions/National_Community_College_Aerospace_Scholars.html
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MEDIA ADVISORY: M10-163
SPACE STATION ASTRONAUTS CONNECT LIVE WITH D.C. STUDENTS
WASHINGTON ? To highlight International Education Week (IEW), NASA and the U.S. Department of Education will host a live long-distance call for students with International Space Station residents Scott Kelly, Shannon Walker and Doug Wheelock. NASA Associate Administrator for Education Leland Melvin and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will join students from Hart Middle School and Deal Middle School in Washington to discuss living and working in space with the ISS crew. The downlink is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 23, from 11:20 to 11:40 a.m. EST, and will air live on NASA Television and the agency's website. Media representatives interested in attending the event should contact Jim Bradshaw at the Department of Education at jim.bradshaw@ed.gov by 5:00 p.m. Monday, Nov. 22. The event will take place at the Department of Education's auditorium located at 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W. in Washington. Both schools have teachers from the Teach for America program who helped develop the event. Teach for America is a network of top college graduates and professionals who commit to teach for two years to expand educational opportunities in urban and rural public schools. This year's IEW theme is International Education: Striving for a Sustainable Future. IEW continues a long-standing partnership between NASA and the Education Department that celebrates the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. Kelly, Walker and Wheelock are living and conducting science experiments aboard the space station for about six months. Wheelock, who is commander of the station's Expedition 25, and Walker are due to return to Earth Thursday, Nov. 25. Kelly will remain on board, serving as the Expedition 26 commander, until March. The live, in-flight education downlink is one of a series with educational organizations in the U.S. and abroad to improve teaching and learning in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. It is an integral component of Teaching From Space, a NASA Education program that promotes learning opportunities and builds partnerships with the education community using the unique environment of space and NASA's human spaceflight program. For NASA TV downlink, schedule and streaming video information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv
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