Registration is open for Sally Ride Science STS-118 Workshop

(July 4, 2007) - Educators can get involved in STS-118, the first flight of an educator astronaut, by registering for an Educator Institute held at the San Diego Air & Space Museum, offered by Sally Ride Science in collaboration with NASA and Northrop Grumman. This one-day professional development program for upper elementary and middle school science teachers will be held on August 4th in the museum's Education Center.

Space Shuttle Endeavour is set to launch this summer to continue assembly of the International Space Station, and aboard will be Educator Astronaut Barbara Morgan. During the Educator Institute, teachers will learn about the education activities associated with STS-118, including an engineering design challenge for the next school year.

When astronauts return to the moon and then travel on to Mars and beyond, they will need to learn how to plant and grow food. The challenge will give students a chance to design their own lunar plant growth chambers, and possibly use some of the millions of basil seeds set to fly aboard Endeavour. Participants also will get fun and high-quality activities and tools to take back to classrooms, earn eight hours of professional development and hear a presentation by a space shuttle astronaut.

"This mission will have a special emphasis on science, technology, engineering, mathematics and education, so we're proud to partner with the San Diego Air & Space Museum, NASA and Northrop Grumman to provide educators a connection to this unique mission," said Sally Ride, President and CEO of Sally Ride Science.

Barbara Morgan began teaching in 1974. In 1985, NASA selected her to be the backup to Christa McAuliffe for the Teacher in Space Program. In that role, Morgan trained with McAuliffe, who was lost with her crewmates in the Space Shuttle Challenger accident in 1986.

Morgan's flight provides a bridge for the objectives set forth in the Teacher in Space Program and NASA's current Educator Astronaut Project, which elevate teaching as a profession and to inspire students. Unlike the Teacher in Space Program, educator astronauts become full-time, permanent astronauts. They fly as crew members with critical mission responsibilities, as well as education-related goals. NASA selected three additional educator astronauts in 2004: Joe Acaba, Ricky Arnold and Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger.