Iowa Space Grant Consortium 2024 Space Education Work shop.
The ISGC Space Education Workshop is a professional development opportunity by the Iowa Space Grant Consortium to provide a unique experience for Iowa educators to dive deep into STEM and space education.
In June 2024 selected educators attended the Space Port Area Conference (SPACE) for educators at NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC). SPACE provides educators the opportunity to be immersed in the operations of Kennedy Space Center – including keynote sessions with astronauts, and other space icons, as well as behind the scene tours of the Space Port Operations.
While in the area, ISGC workshop attendees also toured the Blue Origin Manufacturing facility located near Kennedy Space Center. The Blue Origin facility is located on the Space Coast in Florida and focuses on the research, development, and manufacturing of innovative spacecraft models. While touring the Blue Origin facility, the educators were able to discuss and see in action the various engineering, math, and science concepts that are being explored in their classrooms. The opportunity provided attendees the chance to ask space exploration and technology industry experts questions on how to best prepare their students for entering the STEM workforce and space industry.
Among the seven educators selected for this opportunity was Mallory Wills-Howe, a secondary science educator at George Washington High School in Cedar Rapids. Wills-Howe, with a teaching focus in earth and space science, who expressed her appreciation of the experience and how she wants to inspire her upcoming year of students based on the new information she was given at the conference.
"“It’s good to have up-to-date information and topics so that students have an idea of what space exploration looks like today,”
The participants were also given an incredible opportunity to watch a SpaceX Falcon Heavy GOES-U launch on June 25th in Cape Canaveral with a special view from the Blue Origin facility. During the launch, expert engineers from the facility explained the process of the launch and the work behind its preparation as the launch took place outside.
The mission of GOES-U (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-U) is to create continuous advanced imagery and atmospheric measurements of Earth’s weather, oceans, and environment. It will also provide a real-time mapping of total lightning activity and improved monitoring of solar activity and space weather. The launch was a collaborative effort with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and NASA, which showcased a spacecraft with innovative rocket booster features. The new spacecraft will join other GOES satellites that orbit Earth and assist meteorologists with improved atmospheric tracking. The launch cost $97 million.
The Iowa Space Grant Consortium is proud to support educators across the state and bring NASA opportunities home for all Iowan’s. For Iowa educators interested in learning more about how to get involved, visit the Iowa Space Grant Consortium website for more information.
To learn more about space exploration and upcoming launches, download the Next Spaceflight application to view live streams for launches around the globe.