Oklahoma State Tied to Space Shuttle Endeavour STS-118 Mission

Monday, August 20, 2007

STILLWATER – On Aug. 9, NASA launched the Space Shuttle Endeavour STS-118, a mission to which Oklahoma State University has close ties.   
 
The STS-118 Crew is charged with the task of continuing to assemble the International Space Station, but this is also the first flight of an Educator Astronaut, mission specialist Barbara Morgan. Morgan is a former employee of Oklahoma State University through NASA’s Education Division, Office of Human Resources and Education. An Educator Astronaut is a fully qualified astronaut who brings expertise in K-12 education and helps lead NASA in the development of new ways to connect space exploration with the classroom.  
 
"Barbara has been an inspiration to educators across the United States,” Dr. Steve Marks, Aviation and Space Education program coordinator at Oklahoma State said.  “Working directly with her has led to new and innovative ways to teach students about Space Exploration."
 
Morgan is not the only OSU tie with the mission.  Six Oklahoma State employees in Houston, Texas, are involved in the NASA Teaching from Space Project (TFSP), which helps to develop education programs and serve as a resource for missions and astronauts.  That group includes Program Manager Cindy McArthur; Education Specialists Rene Flores, Linus Guillory, Matthew Keil and Jonathan Neubauer; and Program Support Specialist Kelly McCormick.  
 
The Teaching from Space Project is providing support of the STS-118 crew.  During the 14-day mission, STS-118 has taken part in a number of educational initiatives, including space-to-ground conversations, or downlinks, with audiences at the Discovery Center of Idaho, the Challenger Center for Space Science Education in Virginia and with the Robert L. Ford School in Lynn, Mass. The Crew is also assessing Lunar Plant Growth Chambers.  During the current mission, a total of 10 million basil seeds and two growth chambers are bring exposed to microgravity.  They will be brought back to Earth to be used in classrooms throughout the nation.  
 
The Teaching from Space Project has been a cooperative agreement between Oklahoma State University and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for its entire history, dating back to 1985.  OSU provides logistical support for hiring, arranging professional development opportunities, and purchasing and maintaining equipment for Education Flight Opportunities on the space shuttle and/or the International Space Station.