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NASA Event Honors 'Blacks in Space'
By Lango Deen
Sep 13, 2004, 12:17

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NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe and Joan E. Higginbotham, one of three active Black female astronauts, took questions at a recent round table event in honor of "Blacks in Space", at NASA headquarters in Washington D.C. O'Keefe spoke at length about the NASA Explorer Schools program, an innovative program that, each year, partners the space agency with 50 schools in diverse communities across the country.

The hour-long media session was held to mark the contributions of Blacks in Space.

To date there have been 14 Black men and women in the NASA corps of astronauts. Six, including Higginbotham, now are active and eligible for flight assignments: Col. Yvonne D. Cagle, US Air Force; Cmdr. Robert L. Curbeam, Jr., U.S. Navy; Lt. Col. B. Alvin Drew, U.S. Air Force, Leland D. Melvin and Stephanie D. Wilson

Speaking of what NASA is doing to inspire the next generation; Mr. O’Keefe said the space administration is focused on "catching kids in the middle school range…motivating people who otherwise wouldn’t think it."

He spoke at length of the NASA Explorer Schools program – an innovative three-year partnership between NASA and school teams from diverse communities across the country.

The NES is designed to bring NASA’s real world and practical applications of science, technology, engineering and mathematics directly from NASA’s scientists, researchers and engineers to educators, students and families in diverse communities across the country.

"We’re reaching beyond school districts and communities within 50-mile radius of NASA locations such as Houston, Texas, Huntsville, Alabama and Pasadena in California", said Mr. O’Keefe.

So far 100 schools are partnered with NASA. The number will soon rise to 150, O'Keefe said.

Schools will be able to apply online for NES between September 15 and January 30. While partnered with NASA, NES student teams will acquire and use new teaching resources and technology tools for grades 4 –9 using NASA’s unique content, experts and other resources. Schools in the program are eligible to receive up to $17,500 over the three-year period to purchase technology tools that support science and mathematics instruction.

For further information go to: <http://explorerschools.nasa.gov/portal/site/nes/>