Moravian Academy Students Train Like Astronauts at U.S. Space & Rocket Center

Moravian Academy students spent an exciting week at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, where they participated in Space Camp and Space Academy programs filled with hands-on STEM learning, astronaut training, and simulated space missions.

 

Throughout the week, students experienced many of the challenges astronauts face while preparing for and carrying out missions. They worked together to complete simulated space missions, took on roles in Mission Control and aboard spacecraft, built and launched model rockets, and participated in hands-on training activities that tested their teamwork and problem-solving skills.

 

Beyond their mission training, students explored the science and engineering that make space exploration possible. They investigated topics including planetary geology, planetary weather, atmospheric reentry, and space debris. Space Academy participants designed and tested heat shield prototypes, while teams aboard a simulated International Space Station conducted science experiments and completed extravehicular activities (EVAs).

 

One of the highlights of the week was meeting former NASA astronaut Dorothy "Dottie" Metcalf-Lindenburger. A former science teacher and the first Space Camp alumna to become an astronaut, Metcalf-Lindenburger shared stories from her career, including her mission aboard Space Shuttle Discovery's STS-131 flight to the International Space Station. Students had the opportunity to ask questions and learn about her path from Space Camp participant to astronaut.

 

By the end of the week, students had launched rockets, completed missions, explored space science concepts, and gained a firsthand look at the teamwork and innovation that make space exploration possible. The experience provided an unforgettable opportunity to learn, collaborate, and imagine the possibilities of future exploration.