Want to take part in NASA’s space academy program to learn what it takes to become an astronaut? Fortunately, there are a number of space academy programs at a few of the NASA space centers in the U.S.
The following is a list of NASA Space Academy programs:
U.S. Space and Rocket Center:
Address: 1 Tranquility Base, Huntsville, AL
Website: www.rocketcenter.com
The U.S. Space and Rocket Center is a visitor center for the Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama.
The center offers numerous space academy programs during which trainees experience simulated space travel and train to solve technical problems to complete their mission.
Space Academy: Ages 12-14
Some of the activities include training like an astronaut on the 1/6th Gravity Chair and the Multi-Axis Trainer, designing and launching a rocket and learning team-building skills at the Space Camp Challenge Course and in one of the center’s water facilities.
The Space Academy program is an overnight six-day, five-night program that is available in July and August each year. The center also offers an Advanced Space Academy: Ages 15-18 program, an Advanced Space Academy Elite: Ages 15-18 program, and a Space Academy for Leading Students in Alabama: Ages 12-14.
Adult Space Academy:
The adult space academy program is a space academy for people who are over 18 years of age.
Adult Space Academy is a three-day, two-night program during which participants train like an astronaut on the Multi-Axis Trainer, build and launch their own model rocket, experience the Low Elements Ropes Course, designing a protective heat shield and participate in a simulated space mission. The center also offers an Advanced Adult Space Academy program.
Family Space Academy: Ages 7-18:
Family Space Academy is a space academy program for one adult and one child between the ages of seven and 18.
The program is a three day, two night program during which students take part in simulated missions to the International Space Station, build and launch a model rocket and train like an astronaut on the Multi-Axis Trainer and the 1/6th Gravity Chair.
Space Academy for Educators:
The Space Academy for Educators program is a six day, five night program during which participants experience astronaut training simulators and activities developed to promote learning in a classroom setting.
In addition to the Space Academy program, the center also offers a space camp program, a space camp robotics camp, an astronaut training experience, astronaut chats, a flight simulator experience and a G-Force accelerator.
Space Center Houston:
Address: 1601 E NASA Pkwy, Houston, TX
Website: spacecenter.org
Space Center Houston is the official visitor center for the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Texas. The center offers five Space Center University programs and an Exploration Academy:
Ages 11 – 14 Mission:
Ages 11 – 14 Mission is a five-day lunar program for 11 to 14-year-olds during which students take part in hands-on, engineering-based activities and data collection technological integration.
The students also take tours of actual astronaut training facilities, listen to guest speakers discuss what it takes to work at NASA, watch an astronaut presentation, learn about sustainable habitat construction, robotic coding and rocket launches.
Ages 15 – 18 Mission:
Ages 15 – 18 Mission is a five-day Martian program for 15 to 18-year-olds during which students take part in hands-on, engineering based activities and data collection technological integration.
The students also take tours of actual astronaut training facilities, experience underwater “astronaut training,” listen to guest speakers discuss what it takes to work at NASA, watch an astronaut presentation and learn about sustainable habitat construction, robot retrieval mission and programming, multi-stage rocket design and launch.
Atmospheric Space U:
Atmospheric Space U is a STEM program designed to teach students about the physics of space travel. Students designs and build scientific payloads to collect data, make flight predictions, learn about high-altitude experimental design and payload design.
Mission Control Space U:
Mission Control Space U is a program designed to teach students the technical skills needed for space missions by exploring a simulated Lunar surface to prepare for an extra vehicular activity (EVA.) During the EVAs, students have the opportunity to complete missions being an astronaut, Mission Control, and back-room support.
Survival Space U:
Survival Space U is a program designed to teach astronaut survival skills during which students learn what it is like to be on a mission in space. The mission concludes with a helicopter underwater escape training exercise where students learn and experience how to escape a sinking vessel, swim as a team to safety, and get into a life raft.
In addition to the Space Center University program, the center also offers a space camp program, guided tours of the center, astronaut encounters, a NASA overnight experience and also allows visitors to touch a moon rock that was collected during the Apollo 17 mission.
Exploration Academy:
The Exploration Academy is an 8-week STEM program for fifth-grade students in Title 1 schools. During the program, the students work through innovative robotics and technology to work through real-world problems.
Sources:
“Space Center U.” Houston Space Center, spacecenter.org/space-center-u/
“Space Academy.” U.S. Space and Rocket Center, rocketcenter.com/SpaceCamp/Academy
