NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NASA’s Texas Aerospace Scholars (TAS) is wrapping up a summer spent on sending more than 300 Texas high school juniors on a simulated journey to Mars. The effort was made possible by a record $100,000 contribution from the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

In March, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo presented TAS with an initial $50,000 check and challenged the program to match the funds. The program did. Recently, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo gave TAS the additional $50,000, enabling 50 more Texas high school students to attend TAS’ yearlong high school program, High School Aerospace Scholars (HAS).


Image above: Texas high schoolers test out their self-designed and self-built rover on a simulated Martian surface as part of High School Aerospace Scholars at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. In addition to building rovers, the students also build rockets and landers with some assistance from NASA engineers.

The state of Texas, in partnership with NASA's Johnson Space Center and the Texas educational community, developed TAS in 1999 to encourage more students to pursue studies and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). TAS also works to equip Texas middle school educators with STEM teaching tools and techniques through Middle School Aerospace Scholars, which hosted more than 80 educators this summer. In fall 2006, TAS piloted an internship program for TAS student alumni to do a technical, one-semester internship to bridge their initial TAS experience and future career opportunities.

The HAS experience culminates in a one-week trip to JSC, where the students are challenged to apply what they’ve learned to design a mission to Mars, including building a Mars rover, lander and rocket, while educators develop an “action plan” to integrate NASA resources into the middle school curriculum.

The weeklong experience at JSC also includes a tour of facilities and briefings by noted NASA employees—including astronauts. Student teams then conclude their experience by presenting their proposal at a closing ceremony to their parents, members of the Texas Legislature, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Rotary NASA and JSC senior management.

“One of our students may be the first person to step foot on the moon or Mars, and one of our educators may inspire a future explorer,” said Linda Smith, TAS program manager. “These participants are a result of this unique partnership for education. We’re grateful for the support our partners have given to us and these students and teachers.”


Image above: Texas Aerospace Scholars (TAS) is a partnership between NASA's Johnson Space Center and the Texas educational community. TAS was developed to encourage more students to pursue studies and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Pictured from left to right are: Skip Wagner, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo; State Representative Warren Chisum; State Representative John Davis; Susan White, Director, JSC Office of Education; and Bob Mitchell, Executive Director, Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program.

More than 5,600 students and educators from across Texas have participated in the program. With this program, NASA continues the agency’s tradition of investing in the nation’s educational programs. It is directly tied to the agency's major education goal of attracting and retaining students in STEM disciplines critical to NASA’s future missions, which include missions returning to the moon, then on to Mars and beyond.

For more information about Texas Aerospace Scholars, visit the Web at:

http://aerospacescholars.jsc.nasa.gov