Lowell Center for Space Science and Technology

SMI is pleased to be supporting the upcoming centennial of Robert Goddard's pioneering experiment with a liquid-fueled rocket on March 16, 1926, in Auburn, Massachusetts. The anniversary offers a unique opportunity to engage schools, youth groups, and the public at large in the possibilities for the future as personified by the physicist and inventor who is widely regarded as one of the fathers of the space age. Read more below from SMI VP Bryan Bender about what's in store, including a new one-fifth scale model of Goddard's rocket now available for $29.99 from Estes Industries, LLC. for commemorative launches. “Over 30 years of teaching middle school science, I never saw anything that came close to exciting the kids as much as a rocket launch,” said Jack Colpas, who with his wife Kathy directs the Reach for the Stars National Rocket Competition, which has involved 22,500 kids over the last three decades. “The first thing they have to do is assemble them according to the directions,” he added. “If we are talking about STEM education, that’s a huge event. For the most part kids don’t build much of anything anymore. We’re hoping that all this talk about Goddard and launching rockets in your backyard will get people thinking about ‘gee, that might be a cool thing to do with my students, my scouts, my Civil Air Patrol cadets, YMCA groups.'” Thanks to AIAA for their leadership, as well as Blue Origin, Club for the Future, Clark University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, National Association of Rocketry, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, National Space Society, Space Foundation, Spaceport America, The Aerospace Corporation, The Space Consortium, University of Massachusetts Lowell and its Lowell Center for Space Science and Technology, Virgin Galactic, Winn Properties, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute. And a special shout out to Charles Slatkin at the Wonder Mission, James Thomas, Alissa J. Haddaji, Merrie Scott, Rebecca B. Gray, Brian Talbot, Jake Williams, and Supriya Chakrabarti for all their hard work and dedication. In the words of Goddard: “It is difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow.” Where will you have your Goddard launch? Read more about the centennial events: https://lnkd.in/gxaTNTut https://lnkd.in/gt_b7nrc #STEM #Education #Innovation #WorkforceDevelopment #SpaceLaunch #NASA #Aerospace #Rockets #Satellites #SpaceExploration #Research #GoddardCentennial