Trent J. Perrotto
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-0321
trent.j.perrotto@nasa.gov
Cathy Weselby/Nick Veronico
Ames Research Center/SOFIA Science Center, Moffett Field, Calif.
650-604-4789/650-604-4589
cathy.weselby@nasa.gov / nveronico@sofia.usra.edu
RELEASE: 11-142
NASA SELECTS CLASSROOM TEACHERS FOR SOFIA SCIENCE FLIGHTS
MOFFETT FIELD, Calif. -- NASA has selected six teachers to work with
scientists aboard the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared
Astronomy (SOFIA) during research flights in May and June. This is
the first team of educators selected to participate in SOFIA's
Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors program.
SOFIA is a highly modified Boeing 747SP aircraft fitted with a 100
inch (2.5 meter) diameter telescope. It analyzes infrared light to
study the formation of stars and planets; chemistry of interstellar
gases; composition of comets, asteroids and planets; and supermassive
black holes at the center of galaxies. Infrared observations are
optimal for studying low-temperature objects in space such as the raw
materials for star and planet formation and for seeing through
interstellar dust clouds that block light at visible wavelengths.
"Enabling educators to join SOFIA's scientific research and take that
experience back to their schools and communities is a unique
opportunity for NASA to enhance science and math education across the
country," said John Gagosian, SOFIA program executive at agency
headquarters in Washington. "More than 70 teachers flew on NASA's
previous flying observatory, the Kuiper Airborne Observatory, from
1991 through 1995, and that program had long-lasting, positive
effects on both the teachers and their students."
The six teachers selected for the SOFIA program submitted applications
that included plans for taking their training and flight experience
back to their classrooms.
The teachers selected are:
-- Marita Beard, Branham High School, San Jose, Calif.
-- Mary Blessing, Herndon High School, Herndon, Va.
-- Cris DeWolf, Chippewa Hills High School, Remus, Mich.
-- Kathleen Joanne Fredette, Desert Willow Intermediate School,
Palmdale, Calif.
-- Theresa Paulsen, Mellen School District, Mellen, Wis.
-- Margaret Piper, Lincoln Way High School, Frankfort, Ill.
"We know teachers who participate in science research programs return
inspired, and their students' engagement with technical subjects are
measurably increased for many years afterward," said Dana Backman,
manager of SOFIA's education and outreach programs. "Airborne
Astronomy Ambassadors is an outstanding opportunity for NASA to reach
out to both new and veteran teachers of science, technology,
engineering and math to bring the excitement of real science research
into the classroom and the community at large."
NASA's international partners in developing and operating SOFIA, the
German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the German SOFIA Institute (DSI),
will fly educators as well. The DLR and DSI plan to announce their
first two ambassadors later this month.
SOFIA is a joint program between NASA and DLR in Bonn, Germany. The
SOFIA program is managed at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center,
Edwards, Calif. The aircraft is based at the Dryden Aircraft
Operations Facility in Palmdale, Calif. NASA's Ames Research Center
in Moffett Field, Calif., manages the SOFIA science and mission
operations in cooperation with the Universities Space Research
Association in Columbia, Md., and DSI in Stuttgart, Germany.
NASA will host an online video chat about SOFIA with Project Scientist
Pamela Marcum for approximately one hour at 1 p.m. EDT on Thursday,
May 12. Participants will join a conversation about SOFIA's first
science flights, targets of opportunity, and plans for future
flights. Based at Ames Research Center, Marcum is an expert on galaxy
evolution and worked on the first extensive ultraviolet imaging of
nearby galaxies. For more information on the chat and to participate,
visit:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nasa-arc
For more information about SOFIA, visit:
For information about SOFIA's science missions, visit:
and
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