Thursday, July 14, 2005 | 10:52 a.m.
With plans to watch NASA send Discovery into orbit scratched by a faulty fuel gauge Wednesday, students at Lamping Elementary School did the next best thing: They launched a shuttle of their own.
"Give yourselves a round of applause. You're in orbit," Lamping science teacher Stephanie Steckler told six students as they emerged from the school's flight simulation lab.
Unfortunately, class time ran out before the crew could complete its "mission" and return to Earth.
"We don't have time to land today," Steckler told the students, as they hung up orange flight suits and white lab coats. "Don't worry, we'll bring you back tomorrow."
Lamping is home to the William McCool Science Center, currently under construction at the Henderson campus off Eastern Avenue near Anthem Highlands.
The center honors the memory of McCool and his six fellow astronauts who died Feb. 1, 2003, when the space shuttle Columbia disintegrated while re-entering Earth's atmosphere.
Las Vegas residents Audrey and Barry McCool, whose son was serving as the Columbia's pilot, have been directly involved in planning the space center.
"The McCools are here an awful lot, which has been wonderful," Steckler said. "It's become personal to the kids because they know the McCools -- they really understand how important this launch is."
In an interview Monday with the Sun, Audrey McCool said the Discovery launch "needs to go well for NASA, the program, the whole concept ... It needs to go well for all of us."
Wednesday's delay disappointed the students, but Steckler said she had prepared them for the possibility that weather or mechanical concerns might interfere.
In addition to following along with NASA's "Return to Flight" online lesson plans, students at Lamping have been practicing launches and returns in the school's flight simulator lab.
Teams of six students take turns in both the shuttle simulator and the adjoining lab representing mission control. Actual NASA checklists are used, and more advanced students learn how to handle changing conditions.
On Wednesday a newer fifth grade team had its chance in the shuttle simulator, one of student Morgan Manzo's favorite activities.
"I like all the loud noises," Morgan said, referring to the soundtrack of actual blast-off recordings that accompanies the practice exercises. "It would be even better if the buttons actually worked, and we could move around or go somewhere."
Nia Moreno, another fifth grader, also enjoys the simulator but acknowledges it's not all fun and games.
"You have to study and know what all the panels are," said Moreno, who is considering careers as a soccer player or lawyer. "It's a lot to remember and sometimes I get nervous."
As students wait for the Discovery launch to be rescheduled, construction of the campus science center is well under way.
Portable buildings are expected to arrive at the campus by the end of the month. The free-standing structure will house the school's Space Explorers Program and will eventually include simulators, software systems and a model mission control center.
There will also be a technology lab, kitchen hummingbird garden and paleontology exhibit.
The school community has nearly completed its fundraising campaign, having secured $550,000 in private donations. Another $100,000 is still needed.
Lamping Principal Michael O'Dowd expects the science center to become a popular destination for students from throughout Clark County, much like Vanderburg Elementary School's biosphere or the McCaw School of Mines.
"When it's finished, it's really going to be something special," O'Dowd said.
Join the Discussion:
Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.
Full comments policy