SPACE EXPLORERS PROGRAM: Mission accomplished

Lamping ES science center simulates students' space trips

On a recent afternoon, 18 students from Lamping Elementary School stepped into the school's Space Explorers Program simulators and completed their first official missions into space as shuttle pilots and mission control technicians.

The Space Explorers program was brought to Lamping as part of the school's William McCool Science Center, a freestanding building that is not yet complete but will feature hands-on exhibits and experiment areas as well as the space shuttle and mission control simulators. By using the simulators, students will have a chance to experience first hand the tasks that NASA shuttle pilots and mission control technicians do.

Lamping administrators, staff and parents began raising money for the McCool science center last fall, and hope to complete construction on the facility and open it to students next fall. In the meantime, students will begin using the simulators and the school's Air to Space Museum, which was the first phase of the program. Students in each grade level will focus on different aspects of outer space and flight, including space exploration, the solar system and flight and navigation.

The student astronauts involved with the simulated launches and landings during the space center's grand opening spent three weeks training for their "missions" during the opening. Because the simulator didn't arrive at the school until the week of the opening, students spent most of their training time working with cardboard models of the simulators.

During the week following the grand opening, Lamping's third-, fourth- and fifth-graders began training with the flight simulators. The program's directors hope that eventually all Lamping students will have the opportunity to work with the simulators, as well as students from schools across the district.

Though similar simulation centers are in operation in schools on the East Coast, the Lamping program is the first to be established west of the Mississippi.

According to Kerry Joels of the Total Learning Research Institute -- the nonprofit organization that developed the Space Explorers program -- the student astronauts who participated in the program accomplished a huge feat.

"I would appreciate it if you would appreciate these students after their missions," Joels said. "They just did what the astronauts do."

The McCool Science Center was named after and dedicated to pilot William McCool, a crew member last in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in February of 2003.

Las Vegas residents Barry and Audrey McCool, William's parents, have worked with Lamping to bring the Space Explorers program to Henderson, and were present at the grand opening.

"I think the Columbia astronauts would be looking down on tonight and would be really pleased," Barry McCool said. "I think this is a great night for Lamping Elementary School and a for the Clark County School District."

Audrey McCool added that the students' excitement about the program has made it worth the effort.

"The kids are so excited about this, you can see it in their faces. This is such a great replica of what it actually is, it's just really impressive," she said.

Lamping is also home to the Christa McAuliffe Observatory, a teacher and one of the first civilians in space. McAuliffe was aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger, which exploded shortly after launch in January 1986.

For more information about the William McCool Science Center or to make a contribution, contact Lamping Elementary at 799-1330.


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