Andrew Yee[_1_]
February 11th 08, 02:42 AM
Dewayne Washington
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD Feb. 7, 2007
301-286-0040
Victor Willert
Lorraine Hansberry Academy
718-589-6728
RELEASE: 08-14
NASA SELECTS BRONX SCHOOL TO FLY ABOARD 'WEIGHTLESS WONDER'
NASA has selected Lorraine Hansberry Academy of the Bronx, New York
City, New York, to fly a student-designed experiment aboard the agency's
reduced gravity aircraft, the "Weightless Wonder."
Lorraine Hansberry Academy will join 13 other NASA Explorer School (NES)
teams selected for this unique learning experience to test science and
math concepts in a weightless laboratory aboard the Weightless Wonder.
The modified McDonnell Douglas DC-9 jetliner will fly a series of
parabolic maneuvers-steep climbs followed by sharp descents. Each climb
will produce about 30 seconds of hyper gravity, ranging from 1.8 to 2 g's.
When the C-9 "noses over," each free fall will produce 18 to 25 seconds
of weightlessness. The teams will fly about 32 parabolas.
The immediate mission for the team of educators was to finalize the
concept of their experiment and work with a NASA mentor to get their
experiment flight-ready. The team selected several members to accompany
and execute their experiment aboard the aircraft. Those educators have
already arrived at Ellington Field, a NASA aircraft facility near the
Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas to prepare for their flight next
week.
"The goal of the NASA Explorer School Program is to equip the next
generation of explorers. These flights are an illustration of how NASA
can connect space, math and science to classrooms on Earth," said Rob
Lasalvia, NES Program Manager.
Lorraine Hansberry Academy was selected a NASA Explorer School in 2005,
giving the school an opportunity to propose a reduced gravity
experiment. The program enables schools and their communities to work
with NASA in a three-year partnership to develop the nation's future
science, technology, engineering and mathematics work force. There are
now 200 teams, representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the
Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
With this program, NASA continues the agency's tradition of investing in
the nation's education programs. It is directly tied the agency's major
education goal of attracting and retaining students in science,
technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, disciplines. To
compete effectively for the minds, imaginations, and career ambitions of
America's young people, NASA is focused on engaging and retaining
students in STEM education programs to encourage their pursuit of
educational disciplines critical to NASA's future engineering,
scientific and technical missions.
For more information on NASA Explorer Schools on the Internet, go to:
http://explorerschools.nasa.gov/portal/site/nes/
For more information on other NASA Reduced Gravity Programs, visit the
Web at:
http://microgravityuniversity.jsc.nasa.gov
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD Feb. 7, 2007
301-286-0040
Victor Willert
Lorraine Hansberry Academy
718-589-6728
RELEASE: 08-14
NASA SELECTS BRONX SCHOOL TO FLY ABOARD 'WEIGHTLESS WONDER'
NASA has selected Lorraine Hansberry Academy of the Bronx, New York
City, New York, to fly a student-designed experiment aboard the agency's
reduced gravity aircraft, the "Weightless Wonder."
Lorraine Hansberry Academy will join 13 other NASA Explorer School (NES)
teams selected for this unique learning experience to test science and
math concepts in a weightless laboratory aboard the Weightless Wonder.
The modified McDonnell Douglas DC-9 jetliner will fly a series of
parabolic maneuvers-steep climbs followed by sharp descents. Each climb
will produce about 30 seconds of hyper gravity, ranging from 1.8 to 2 g's.
When the C-9 "noses over," each free fall will produce 18 to 25 seconds
of weightlessness. The teams will fly about 32 parabolas.
The immediate mission for the team of educators was to finalize the
concept of their experiment and work with a NASA mentor to get their
experiment flight-ready. The team selected several members to accompany
and execute their experiment aboard the aircraft. Those educators have
already arrived at Ellington Field, a NASA aircraft facility near the
Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas to prepare for their flight next
week.
"The goal of the NASA Explorer School Program is to equip the next
generation of explorers. These flights are an illustration of how NASA
can connect space, math and science to classrooms on Earth," said Rob
Lasalvia, NES Program Manager.
Lorraine Hansberry Academy was selected a NASA Explorer School in 2005,
giving the school an opportunity to propose a reduced gravity
experiment. The program enables schools and their communities to work
with NASA in a three-year partnership to develop the nation's future
science, technology, engineering and mathematics work force. There are
now 200 teams, representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the
Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
With this program, NASA continues the agency's tradition of investing in
the nation's education programs. It is directly tied the agency's major
education goal of attracting and retaining students in science,
technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, disciplines. To
compete effectively for the minds, imaginations, and career ambitions of
America's young people, NASA is focused on engaging and retaining
students in STEM education programs to encourage their pursuit of
educational disciplines critical to NASA's future engineering,
scientific and technical missions.
For more information on NASA Explorer Schools on the Internet, go to:
http://explorerschools.nasa.gov/portal/site/nes/
For more information on other NASA Reduced Gravity Programs, visit the
Web at:
http://microgravityuniversity.jsc.nasa.gov