I
alright who was the first American in
space and see if you can tell me when
raise your hand now I think it was Alan
B Shepard in 1961 how many people have
actually walked on the moon that's what
people walked on then where was the
first space shuttle launch and what was
the main love him first space show was
Columbia and it was launched in 1981
here's another question why did the
students in this classroom know so much
about the space program the answer
because the space program has made its
way into this classroom a computer
system called NASA's Space link connects
these students with such things as space
agency background information daily
updates and news releases even lesson
plans and other resources for teachers
like Margaret Milton unless you use
newspapers or current periodicals or
something like space link there's no way
for kids to have the correct information
science and technology changing
everything so quickly NASA hopes this
program will address a growing national
concern when these youngsters enter the
workforce will there be enough trained
scientists and engineers to meet an
expanding need we are really facing a
crisis former teacher Bill Anderson
manages the space link program which is
based at NASA's Marshall Space Flight
Center in Huntsville Alabama he believes
that linking the space program with
classrooms today will pay off big in the
years ahead third fourth and fifth
grades middle school high school
encourage them to continue studying math
and science to show them how important
it is and really how exciting it is
that's why we feel like with program is
exciting as the space program we we have
an advantage and encouraging children to
be interested in math and science and we
feel like we need to do our part
although primarily meant for schools the
system is open to anyone interested in
the space program all it takes is a
personal computer a modem and a phone
call to the marshall center when your
computer connects with nasa space link
user-friendly instructions will appear
on your screen to help you register and
use the system NASA space link is free
but you'll owe your telephone company
for any long distance calls in
Huntsville this is mike harrington
running
that first me then I can't remember it
from some suddenly
go to special
maybe some of you know once the Hubble
telescope is like what do you think we
might be learning that we don't already
know very good man I'm sure we'll find
different planets and galaxies and stars
and possibilities are limitless with
something that powerful