NASA Set To Host Future Female Explorers

June 20, 2012

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

Rachel Kraft
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
rachel.h.kraft@nasa.gov

RELEASE: 12-209

NASA SET TO HOST FUTURE FEMALE EXPLORERS

WASHINGTON -- Eighty-four female high school students from 29 states
will plan a simulated mission to Mars and experience life as an
engineer or scientist when NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston
hosts two events focused on science, technology, engineering and
mathematics (STEM) in June and July.

The Women in STEM High School Aerospace Scholars project, or WISH, is
sponsoring two six-day summer camps for rising high school seniors.
The young women will work in teams with female NASA mentors to
develop mission plans for launching to Mars, living and working
there, and integrating the many components necessary for a successful
planetary mission. They will work within the confines of a fictitious
budget and build several small mockups of vehicles to demonstrate a
successful launch and landing of the Mars spacecraft.

"WISH gives some of our brightest future innovators a chance to
experience some of the exciting challenges that NASA engineers and
scientists face on a daily basis," said Johnson Deputy Director and
four-time space shuttle astronaut Ellen Ochoa. "It shows the young
women that there are a variety of opportunities for them in technical
fields."

Young women participating June 24-29 will hear a first-hand account of
life in space from NASA astronaut Shannon Walker. Participants July
8-13 will have a chance to speak with a current space station
astronaut via ham radio as part of the Amateur Radio on the
International Space Station program, a NASA educational initiative
that facilitates direct links between students and astronauts.

The young women were selected based on completion of interactive,
online lessons focused on space exploration and mapped to national
education standards, academic merits and geographic diversity. The
WISH program encourages young women to pursue science, technology,
engineering and mathematics degrees and exposes them to the
real-world applications of STEM careers at NASA. This program is in
its second year. It began as a NASA accompaniment to the White House
Council on Women and Girls.

For more information about WISH and a list of student participants,
visit:

http://go.usa.gov/dsP

For information about NASA's education programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/education

For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov


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