Dwayne Brown<br />Headquarters, Washington June 19, 2003<br />(Phone: 202/358-1726)<br /><br /><br />NASA REVIEWING EDUCATOR ASTRONAUT APPLICATIONS<br /><br /><br />RELEASE: 03-203<br /><br /><br /> The countdown has started for teachers from around the <br />United States striving to become permanent members of NASA's <br />Astronaut Corps.<br /><br /><br />NASA will review more than 1,600 applications from teachers <br />for the three to six slots in the first class of Educator <br />Astronauts. Educator Astronauts will be trained to perform <br />spacewalks, operate the Space Shuttle's robotic arm and lead <br />research experiments. Educator Astronauts will also share <br />their extraordinary experience with millions of students and <br />teachers in a unique NASA program designed to show learning <br />in a whole new light.<br /><br /><br />Educator Astronauts will be able to provide a direct <br />connection between America's teachers and students, and the <br />various careers and opportunities associated with space <br />exploration through the Nation's aerospace program. The <br />Educator Astronaut Program (EAP) will generate renewed <br />interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics <br />and cultivate a new generation of scientists and engineers.<br /><br /><br />NASA will use criteria developed by a Blue Ribbon Panel to <br />identify the final candidates. The panel is comprised of a <br />diverse group of educators from the K-12 education <br />community. The Space Foundation, one of the world's leading <br />non-profit organizations supporting space activities and <br />education, won a competitive bid to convene the Blue Ribbon <br />Panel. <br /><br /><br />The nine-member Blue Ribbon Panel will meet at the Space <br />Foundation headquarters for an intensive five-week effort <br />before submitting final criteria to NASA in July. The <br />panel's goal is to establish an efficient and effective <br />mechanism for selecting applicants, reviewing existing <br />Educator Astronaut evaluative data, researching the <br />literature on quality teachers, and identifying selection <br />criteria. <br /><br /><br />The Space Foundation conducts two of the top conferences for <br />space professionals; the National Space Symposium and the <br />International Space Symposium. Since 1986, the Space <br />Foundation has trained more than 30,000 teachers via <br />graduate courses and national conferences. <br /><br /><br />More than 20,000 people have joined Educator Astronaut Earth <br />Crew, which is a web-based education program that enables <br />members to participate in NASA's missions. Earth Crew <br />members can participate in national Web casts and assist <br />NASA Mission Planners in organizing potential experiments <br />and activities for the Educator Astronauts in space.<br /><br /><br />For information about the EAP and the Earth Crew on the <br />Internet, visit:<br /> <br />http://edspace.nasa.gov/<br /><br /><br />For information about NASA education programs and <br />initiatives on the Internet, visit:<br /><br /><br />http://education.nasa.gov/<br /><br /><br />For information about the Space Foundation on the Internet, <br />visit: <br /><br /><br />www.spacefoundation.org/education<br /><br /><br />For information about NASA, human space flight and other <br />agency programs on the Internet, visit:<br /><br /><br />http://www.nasa.gov