Students in Space
By Jessica Rae Patton, Associate Editor

The model spacecraft Janus 50 "orbited" the school library.

For the crew of JANUS 50, May 4, 2007, was a beautiful day to reenter the earth's atmosphere. The weather at Cape Canaveral was a sunny 70 degrees; the goal of visiting the International Space Station to install new solar arrays and retrieve Sputnik-1 had been achieved. The space shuttle was manned – and guided from mission control – by members of Columbus Magnet School's Young Astronaut (YA) program, 14 fifth-grade students who had prepared rigorously all year for this 24-hour mission. Indeed, many had been involved in YA since first grade, attracted to the extra-curricular program for its hands-on exploration of science through space study. This year's mission was named for Janus, the Roman God of two faces who could see both the past and the future. It celebrated the history of space exploration, marking the 50-year anniversary since the launch of Sputnik-1.

Commander Sam is all smiles.

The crowd that gathered to watch the landing of JANUS 50 via close-circuit television in the library at Columbus Magnet School in Norwalk, CT, included local and state officials, the press, an ambassador from NASA and a Russian dignitary, as well as parents and alumni of the YA program. We watched and listened to the mission control team guide the spacecraft back into the earth's orbit. There was a "live" image of the shuttle descending at Cape Canaveral, and a report from Sam, the shuttle's commander: "I can see the coast of Florida. What a beautiful flight." The crowd erupted with applause and laughter, because the astronauts, in actuality, were just a few feet away from us in a giant model spacecraft that had temporarily displaced the library's bookshelves; mission control was located downstairs in the school gymnasium. However, just because the shuttle had never left the school building didn't make the mission, the curriculum-spanning lessons learned in preparation for it, the experiments conducted onboard and its focus on collaboration any less real. And as far as the audience was concerned, we were waiting in anticipation of a face-to-face meeting with a team of true-blue space explorers.

The Shuttle Crew members listen to the guest speakers.

Finally, Commander-in-Chief (and second-grade teacher) Andy Pearce, who has advised the YA program since the retirement of former Columbus principal and YA program founder Art Perschino in 2003, excitedly announced the arrival of the team. To a standing ovation, the nine Mission Control members filed in, then the shuttle doors opened and the five students of the shuttle crew emerged. For the next hour, guest speakers addressed the Young Astronauts. Connecticut State Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said, "This program shows that involving students in real-life experiences can teach more than sitting them in desks for long periods learning numbers." Norwalk Mayor Richard Moccia declared May 4, 2007, as Young Astronauts Day. NASA Ambassador Todd Sullivan encouraged the students to make this mission a defining moment in their lives. "Continue with these scientific endeavors. Know your history."

After a long night on the job, Mission Control members await the Shuttle Crew at the press conference.

From the press conference, the astronauts and their support team moved on to where the real excitement was – the school gymnasium, where their fellow Columbus students greeted them with a noisy, jubilant welcome. The kids strode through the crowd one at a time as their names were called, receiving high-fives and pats on the back from preschoolers through their fifth-grade classmates. They had graciously accepted accolades and fielded questions from the grown-ups upstairs, but it was here among their peers that they let loose and really expressed the excitement of having completed a mission they'd trained for since first grade. Students took to the microphone to inquire about the nature of the 24-hour journey, and the astronauts clamored to share their experiences: "What was your favorite part of the mission?" The shuttle's pilot, Emma, replied, "Learning our experiments and all the team-building exercises." She also addressed the question, "What did you do when the oxygen tank burst?" This was one of three emergencies the mission members had to contend with during their flight. "Well," said Emma, "we were aggravated at first because everyone had different ideas about what to do. We lost our teamwork for a little while, but once we found the emergency manual we were able to cooperate again and laugh." Another challenge, as reported by Mission Specialist 2 Joe, was "We ran out of paper towels, and we forgot to pack cups." "What was your drive and motive to be a Young Astronaut?" asked a third-grade girl. "Because my friends said it was really fun, and to be a good influence for the younger kids," answered Flight Director Chris. And finally, a kindergartner posed the question, "Did you go into real space?" The crowd was as close to silent as it had been all morning in anticipation of the answer. "What do you think?" asked one mission member. The response was a mix of yes's and no's. The pilot stepped up and assuredly answered, "Yes." The students cheered.

The astronauts receive a rousing welcome home from their school community.

May, 2007, Vol.37, No.8