St John student completes NASA based space science education program at the Cosmosphere

Derek Hacker of St. John, KS, child of Ken and Wendy Hacker, graduated from Space 101 of the Kansas Adventures in Outer Space (KAOS) at the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center on July 21. Derek will be entering grade 8 at St. John Jr./Sr. Jr. High School this fall.

Space 101 is a four day, introductory astronaut training camp is for students entering grades 7-8 emphasizing teamwork, leadership and problem solving. Developed by Cosmosphere staff, Camp KAOS is nationally recognized to motivate campers to seek careers in science and aerospace-related industries.

Participants construct and launch rockets, attend interactive briefings with Cosmosphere space science educators, tour the world-renowned Hall of Space Museum, and train on Cosmosphere spaceflight simulators. The week culminates with a mission in the Cosmosphere's Falcon III, the most realistic space shuttle simulator outside of NASA, and the monitoring of another team's mission in the mission control center.

Cosmosphere spaceflight simulators challenge campers. 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 designed specifically 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.