Paper Session I-C - Space Life Science Training Program

NASA and the Nation’s education system maintain a symbiotic relationship. NASA depends on the education system to produce skilled, knowledgeable workers. The education community uses NASA to motivate and encourage students to study science, mathematics, engineering and technology. NASA uses partnerships to provide effective education programs to augment the Nation’s education system. The Spaceflight and Life Sciences Training Program (SLSTP) uses partnerships to provide a unique program for undergraduate science and engineering majors. The SLSTP is an intensive six-week training program designed to develop a cadre of scientists and engineers to support future space life sciences and engineering challenges. Undergraduate students from universities across North America compete to fill the positions available each summer at the KSC. The program introduces students to a range of space life sciences research objectives, engineering challenges, and the processes involved in conducting life science experiments in space. KSC educates students by providing hands-on laboratory research activities, ecological field work, tours, lectures and team-building exercises. Throughout the course, students discover that teamwork and partnerships are essential ingredients to success