Audience with an Astronaut Reaches More Than 2000 Students

During World Space Week, the Space Foundation inspired more than 2000 students’ interest in space, as well as science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects, with its Audience with an Astronaut program. Audience with an Astronaut is part of our education program that gives school children the opportunity to hear inspirational stories about the experience of being an astronaut and achieving life-long goals.

Former NASA astronaut and Space Foundation Special Advisor-Human Spaceflight Dr. Leroy Chiao gave 90-minute presentations to students at eight different schools during the week-long event.

The participating schools included:

• McAuliffe Elementary, 4^th-5^th grades
• Henry Elementary, 4^th-5^th grades
• Roosevelt Edison Elementary, 4^th-5^th grades
• Jack Swigert Aerospace Academy, 6^th grade
• Chinook Trail Elementary, 5^th grades
• Monument Academy, 4^th-5^th grades and 6^th-7^th grades in TAG program
• Rocky Mountain Classical Academy, all grades
• STAR Academy, 3^rd-8^th grades

To see a photo gallery of the presentations, click here.

Space Foundation education programs focus on STEM, providing educator professional development and helping to build the overall technological strength and potential of the nation.

Learn more about Space Foundation education programs at www.spacefoundation.org/education.

About Chiao

Educated as an engineer, Space Foundation Special Advisor – Human Spaceflight Dr. Leroy Chiao works in business and academia. He is also a consultant, speaker and former NASA astronaut. Chiao grew up in Danville, Calif., and earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in chemical engineering from the University of California at Santa Barbara. A native English speaker, he also speaks Mandarin Chinese and Russian. He has flown three Space Shuttle missions: STS-92 Discovery, Oct. 11-24, 2000; STS-72 Endeavour, Jan. 11-20, 1996; and STS-65 Columbia, July 8-23, 1994. In addition, he flew as Flight Engineer 1 aboard Soyuz TMA-5 to the International Space Station (ISS), where he served as commander and NASA science officer during Expedition 10. Chiao received the NASA Distinguished Service Medal in 2004. After a 15-year career with NASA, he left in 2005 to work and consult on a number of projects. In 2009, he served as a member of the Review of United States Human Space Flight Plans Committee, and currently serves on the NASA Advisory Council. He holds appointments at Rice University and the Baylor College of Medicine, and is involved in educational programs. An instrument-rated pilot, Chiao has logged over 2,900 flight hours in a variety of aircraft.

This article is part of Space Watch: November 2012 (Volume: 11, Issue: 11).