ISPCS CELEBRATES HISTORIC STUDENT ROCKET LAUNCH
Spaceport America and the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium will conduct their first joint annual educational launch from Spaceport America on May 2. The historic launch, funded by the International Symposium for Personal and Commercial Spaceflight (ISCPS), will utilize an SL-3 launch vehicle provided by UP Aerospace. It will carry 11 multi-sensor experiments designed and created by students from New Mexico schools.
“I can’t think of anything more important than investing in the education and training of today’s young people,” says ISPCS Chair Patricia Hynes. “We consider this inaugural education mission to be a literal investment in the future of the personal and commercial space industry.”
Spaceport America is providing the rocket and launch facilities. New Mexico Space Grant Consortium at New Mexico State University, with proceeds from ISPCS, developed the program that funded two university classes, three community college classes and five high school classes to build electronic experiments over the past academic year.
The launch is open to the public. But those interested in witnessing it in person must RSVP online at http://spaceportamerica.com or by calling (575) 373-6110. Deadline for onsite viewing reservations is Monday, April 27.
Held October 21 and 22 in Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA, ISPCS is organized by the New Mexico Space Grant Consortium, a member of the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, administered by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
For more information on ISPCS 2009, visit www.ispcs.com.
We’re also on Facebook and Twitter