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Brad Parker Completes NASA Based Space Science Education Program
August 18, 2012
Brad Parker, son of David C. Parker and Liz Van Note, graduated from the Mertis of Space Program of Kansas Adventures in Outer Space (KAOS) on July 28 at the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center. Brad will be entering 7th grade at Summit Middle School this fall.
Mertis of Space is a five day, introductory astronaut camp for Boy Scouts entering grades six-eight. This program emphasizes on teamwork, leadership and problem solving. Cosmosphere scout programming is nationally recognized in educating scouts and inspiring them to discover their potential in reaching beyond.
Scouts earn five merit badges during their time at the Cosmosphere, including the Space Exploration, Engineering, Weather, Aviation, and Astronomy badges. As part of their merit badge requirements scouts launch model rockets, tour the Hutchinson Municipal Airport, and view stars and planets through the Cosmosphere’s state of the art telescopes.
Throughout the week, campers train in space simulators for the challenges of living and working in space such as the centrifuge, multi-axis trainer, stress simulator, and Mission Control. The week culminates with a mission in the Cosmosphere’s Falcon III, the most realistic shuttle simulator outside of NASA, where they fly a low Earth orbit mission.
The centrifuge is a rotating device that tests people’s reactions to forces encountered during launch and reentry; the multi-axis trainer spins riders 360 degrees in multiple axes while simulating tumble-type maneuvers that could be encountered in spaceflight; the stress simulator incorporates external stimuli into a mission to replicate stressful situations encountered in spaceflight. The Falcon III simulates launch, orbit, satellite deployment, reentry and landing.
The Cosmosphere offers camp programs for students as young as those going into second grade and on through high school age. Camps are available for adults, including the Intergenerational Camp Experience for grandparents and grandchildren. Camp experiences are also offered for groups, including schools that can custom design curriculum based on state education standards. The Cosmosphere also has programs specifically designed for Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Webelos.
The Cosmosphere’s Camp KAOS features five levels starting for students entering grade 7. Space 101 and 201 are held at the Cosmosphere and nearby areas; Space 301 includes a trip to Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas for a behind-the-scenes tour of NASA’s astronaut training facilities; Space 401 is held at Kennedy Space Center in Florida to experience NASA launch facilities; and Space 501 focuses on emerging space technology facilities in California.
The Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to Honoring the Past and Inspiring the Future of Space Exploration. Educating people from around the globe, the Cosmosphere features the Hall of Space museum, the most significant collection of U.S. and Russian space artifacts in the world; the Justice Planetarium, an interactive multi-media solar system discovery; Dr. Goddard’s Lab, a live rocket science show; the Carey Dome Theater, a giant screen format dome theater. The Cosmosphere is at 1100 N. Plum in Hutchinson, KS. 800-397-0330 or 620-662-2305. Visit www.cosmospherecamps.org for more information.
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