WorldStrides Educational Student Travel Programs - Washington DC, New York, Florida, Costa Rica Destinations

Journey into NASA’s past, present, and future. You’ll see how the Space Program refused to let failure stand in its way of exploring the final frontier. From the earliest attempts to launch rockets to the current construction of the International Space Station, you’ll get up-close to the most substantial components of space travel.

Fun Facts:
In 1981, M&M’s Chocolate Candies were chosen by the first space shuttle astronauts to be included in their food supply.

The popular toy Slinky has gone up in several space shuttles to test the zero-gravity effects on the physical laws that govern springs.

The Space Shuttles each contain more than 34,000 separate heat shielding tiles, each specifically cut for its own location. The heat dissipation process is so effective that the tiles, heated to 2,325ºÐF, can be held at the corners in your bare hands.

Astronauts aren’t the only professionals who contribute to space exploration. Also playing integral roles are Chemical Engineers, Agricultural Engineers, Test Pilots, and Communications Specialists.

When astronauts exercise on the Shuttle, lack of gravity prevents the sweat from falling off their bodies. The sweat collects in puddles on their bodies.

The cargo bay of a space shuttle is large enough to hold one humpback whale, and still have room for 1,000 herrings.

SITES:
http://www.ksc.nasa.gov/
http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/visit/visitor.htm
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/

1665	1752	1903	1947	1961
Sir Isaac Newton observed an apple fall and developed the laws of gravity and motion.	Benjamin Franklin proved that lightning was electricity in his famous kite experiment.	On December 17, the Wright brothers made the first successful airplane flight: 120 feet in 12 seconds.	On October 14, Chuck Yeager became the first person to break the sound barrier, flying at 670 mph.	On May 5, Alan Shepard, Jr. became the first American in space. His 115-mile flight lasted 15 minutes, 22 seconds.
1962	1969	1983	1997	1998
John Glenn became the first person to orbit the earth.	Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin, Jr. became the first people to walk on the moon.	On June 18, Sally Ride became the first woman astronaut in space.	Shannon Lucid spent 188 days aboard the space station Mir, making her the U.S. space flight duration record holder.	On November 7, John Glenn became the oldest astronaut to orbit the earth at the age of 76.