The Vision

Since the beginning of the Space Age, 50 years ago, students have been told that if they studied math and science, they could grow up to become astronauts and go into space.

Unfortunately, that was a false promise. Even at the height of the Shuttle program, a student had a better chance of becoming an NBA basketball player than a NASA astronaut. No wonder today's students show more interest in athletics than math and science.

What if we could turn that around and show students that they have a real chance for a future in space?

Imagine thousands of astronaut teachers, in schools all across the country, sharing their spaceflight knowledge and experiences with millions of students. This vision could become a reality within the next ten years.

Private companies are now developing a new generation of reusable space vehicles, which will dramatically improve safety and reduce the cost of human spaceflight. In the next few years, these vehicles will allow many thousands of people to fly in space.

The Teachers in Space program is working with many of these new spaceflight companies to make sure that teachers are among those who have a chance to go. As a new age of opportunity unfolds, who better than teachers to lead the way?

Unlike NASA's Educator Astronaut program, which takes teachers out of the classroom to join the NASA astronaut corps, Teachers in Space will allow teachers to “keep their day jobs.” Training will take only a few weeks; and many teachers will be able to complete the program during school breaks which will eliminate having to take time away from the classroom.

The selection process for the “Pathfinders” will soon begin. When the first vehicles enter commercial service a few years from now, we will have teachers who are trained and ready to go.

 

Pathfinders

Journey With Us to the New Frontier

Every journey begins with a single step. The Teachers in Space program will begin with the selection of a small group of “Pathfinder” teachers. These Pathfinders will not only participate in sub-orbital flights, but also help to test our concepts for selecting and training teachers nationally. As the first Teachers in Space, Pathfinders will blaze the trail for the thousands of teachers who will follow in the years to come.

The process of selecting the first group of Pathfinders began in the fall and was announced at a special event at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, on October 26, 2007. Details of the selection process have been updated and can be accessed on the TIS Blog.

 

  Against the backdrop defined by aviation and aeronautical pioneers, we have announced the start of a new pioneer program. Just as teachers were pathfinders in the opening of the American West, so too will they be Pathfinders in the opening of the space frontier.

 

Join us in the journey to the new frontier of space. Dare to venture into the exploration of space and take your excitement back to your students. The next generation of space explorers sit in your classroom today!