By Crystal Lyerla perryvillenews.com
Mollie Kluender of Perryville, recently attended SPACE CAMP® at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, NASA’s official Visitor Information Center for Marshall Space Flight Center. The weeklong educational program promotes science, technology, engineering and math (STEM),.
“I became interested in the space program a few years ago after watching a documentary about fixing the Hubble Telescope and watching the movie ‘Apollo 13’,” Kluender said.
“After this, I attended two engineering camps at Missouri University of Science and Technology which boosted my interest in the field. In the future, I would like to attend Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, to major in Astronautical Engineering. I hope to eventually get a job working for NASA to design and build spacecraft.”
Mollie was part of the Advanced Academy Program, which is designed for high school students who have a particular interest in science and aerospace.
Trainees spent the week with a team that flew a simulated Space Shuttle mission to the International Space Station (ISS). Once aboard the ISS, the crew participated in experiments and successfully completed an extra-vehicular activity (EVA), or space walk. Trainees received college credit for participating in the program. Mollie and crew returned to Earth in time to graduate with honors.
“Space Camp was an amazing experience for me. I spent the week as part of a team that learned about the different aspects of spacecraft and space travel. During the week, I, along with my team, trained with simulations to eventually run a very challenging, simulated three-hour space mission in which we flew the space shuttle, docked to the International Space Station, did a spacewalk, and retuned the shuttle home,” Kluender said. “I was the Flight Director in charge of all aspects of that entire mission. During the week, we also participated in several history lessons to broaden our understanding of the evolution of the space program throughout the past 50 plus years. Our understanding of this history was put to the test in several competitions we had amongst our small engineering groups in which we worked to make the best model rocket and heat shield to protect our very important cargo: a raw egg.”
One of the many activities involved the students jumping from a light pole. Kluender said it was the scariest thing she has ever done, but she would do it again.
“We participated in teambuilding activities such as zip lining and a ropes course. One activity involved me being harnessed to my teammates while I climbed to the top of an electric pole where I stood before jumping off, counting on my teammates to catch me. It was the scariest thing I have ever done, but I would do it again,” she said. “I was very lucky to be at camp when an astronaut who was a Space Camp alumnus returned from her 199 day stay in the International Space Station. We watched her return to Earth live from a movie theater on the campus. I was chosen to be interviewed about this special occasion by a news crew local to the Huntsville, Alabama, area. I would recommend this camp to anyone who has any sort of interest in space or flight. The program runs every week for the entire year and is available for students ranging from very young up until age 18. It was truly a spectacular experience, and I am so happy that I was able to attend.”
Space Camp and Aviation Challenge crew trainers who lead each 16-member team must have at least a year of college and 67-percent of the staff are college graduates. Space Camp operates year-round in Huntsville, Alabama, and uses astronaut training techniques to engage trainees in real-world applications of STEM subjects. Students sleep in quarters designed to resemble the ISS and train in simulators like those used by NASA. Interested in training like an astronaut? Visit www.spacecamp.com or call 1-800-63 SPACE.
Kluender is the daughter of James and DeAnna Kluender. She is involved in swimming and track teams, band, choir, National Honor Society, Future Business Leaders of America and was the Student Council class president.
Her hobbies include playing trumpet, spending time with friends, and spending time at the pool – lifeguarding, swimming and teaching swimming lessons.
Kluender is entering her senior year at Perryville High