Teachers Fly Experiments on NASA Reduced Gravity Flights

Feb. 14, 2012

Ann Marie Trotta
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1601
ann.marie.trotta@nasa.gov

RELEASE: 12-053

TEACHERS FLY EXPERIMENTS ON NASA REDUCED GRAVITY FLIGHTS

HOUSTON -- More than 70 teachers had an opportunity to experience what
it feels like to float in space as they participated in the Reduced
Gravity Education Flight Program at NASA's Johnson Space Center in
Houston last week.

The teachers flew aboard an aircraft that flies parabolic flight
paths, which create brief periods of weightlessness. It is a key
component of NASA's astronaut training protocol. The teachers were
selected for the flights through NASA's Teaching from Space and
Explorer School Programs.

NASA Associate Administrator for Education and two-time space shuttle
astronaut Leland Melvin also participated in some of the flights and
shared first-hand with the participants his experiences in astronaut
training.

"The enthusiasm among our teachers participating in the reduced
gravity flights is contagious," Melvin said. "I know it will add a
new dimension to their teaching as they engage their students in
science, technology, engineering and mathematics studies."

Also participating in the flights was Mark Riccobono, executive
director of the National Federation of the Blind's Jernigan
Institute. Riccobono is blind. NASA has worked with the National
Federation of the Blind in a variety of capacities during the past 10
years to share the excitement and inspiration of the agency's
missions and programs with those who are visually impaired.

"NASA education always is looking for ways to make our offerings
available to the widest audience possible," Melvin said. "Mark
Riccobono's flight represents a new chapter in our commitment to
sharing the excitement of NASA's mission with the blind community."

The Teaching from Space Program offers educational opportunities that
use the unique assets of NASA's human spaceflight mission to engage
the education community and create space-related learning
opportunities. Teachers used the event to work with their students to
propose, design and build the experiments they took on the flights.

Fourteen teams comprising 40 teachers from NASA Explorer Schools also
participated as part of the 2011 School Recognition Award for their
contributions to science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or
STEM. They conducted microgravity experiments provided by NASA.

The Reduced Gravity Education Flight Program continues NASA's
investment in U.S. education by helping attract and retain students
in STEM disciplines critical to future space exploration.

To learn more about NASA's education activities, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/education

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