Teachers in Space
Teachers in Space is a joint project of the Space Frontier Foundation and the United States Rocket Academy, led by Ed Wright. Its mission is to:
- Make it possible for large numbers of teachers to explore space
- Return Astronaut-Teachers to American classrooms
- Provide teachers opportunities to impact the next generation by sharing their experiences, knowledge, and adventure
About Teachers In Space
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.
Teachers in Space announced the The “Pathfinder 7” July, 2009 at the Space Frontier Foundation’s annual NewSpace Conference. When the first vehicles enter commercial service a few years from now, we will have teachers who are trained and ready to go.
Key Documents
- Teachers in Space (TIS) Official Press Kit
- Wright, E., “New Opportunities for Scientific Research Afforded by Emerging Commercial Spaceflight Industry,” Teachers in Space Project, November 2009.
Teachers in Space announces "Pathfinder 7" at NewSpace 2009 Conference, July 2009. Photo credit: Sam Coniglio.
We are transforming space from a government- owned bureaucratic program into a dynamic and inclusive frontier open to people. We are determined to convert the image held by many young people that the future will be worse than the present, and we reject the idea that the world's greatest moments are in its past. 
