Date: February 7th 2008

Feb 6, 2008

Tracy Young Kennedy Space Center, Fla 321-867-2468 tracy g young@nasa gov

RELEASE: 02-08

NASA SELECTS FLORIDA SCHOOL TO FLY PROJECT ON 'WEIGHTLESS WONDER'

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla - NASA has selected South Plantation High School of Plantation, Fla , to fly a student-designed experiment aboard the agency's reduced-gravity aircraft, the "Weightless Wonder "

South Plantation will join 13 other NASA Explorer School teams selected for this unique learning experience to test science and math concepts in a weightless laboratory aboard the Weightless Wonder this month The modified McDonnell Douglas DC-9 jetliner will fly a series of parabolic maneuvers -- steep climbs followed by sharp descents Each climb will produce about 30 seconds of hyper gravity, ranging from 1 8 to 2 G's When the C-9 "noses over," each free fall will produce 18 to 25 seconds of weightlessness The teams will fly about 32 parabolas

The school's immediate mission is to finalize the concept of its experiment and work with a NASA mentor to get the experiment flight-ready The team decided which educators will execute and accompany the experiment aboard the aircraft They traveled to NASA's aircraft facility at Ellington Field and the Johnson Space Center in Houston

"The goal of the NASA Explorer School Program is to equip the next generation of explorers These flights are an illustration of how NASA can connect space, math and science to classrooms on Earth," said Rob Lasalvia, program manager

South Plantation was selected as a NASA Explorer School in 2005, giving the school an opportunity to propose a reduced-gravity experiment The program enables schools and their communities to work with NASA in a three-year partnership to develop the nation's future science, technology, engineering and mathematics work force There are now 200 teams, representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico

With this program, NASA continues the agency's tradition of investing in the nation's education programs It is directly tied to the agency's major education goal of attracting and retaining students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, disciplines To compete effectively for the minds, imaginations, and career ambitions of America's young people, NASA is focused on engaging and retaining students in STEM education programs to encourage their pursuit of educational disciplines critical to NASA's future engineering, scientific and technical missions

For more information on NASA Explorer Schools on the Internet, go to:

http://explorerschools nasa gov/portal/site/nes/

For more information on other NASA reduced-gravity programs, visit the Web at:

http://microgravityuniversity jsc nasa gov

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