Latest news with #SpaceCamp
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Civilian astronaut, Space Camp alum announces $15 million donation to U.S. Space & Rocket Center
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — Billionaire entrepreneur and astronaut Jared Issacman announced Friday he plans to donate $15 million to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center (USSRC) to help develop Space Camp facilities. 'Space Camp is a national treasure,' Issacman said. Hydrofest not returning to Lake Guntersville in 2026 Issacman has taken an active interest in Space Camp, making appearances and donating $10 million in 2022. He attended Aviation Challenge at the USSRC when he was 12, and he credits that experience with jump-starting his future career. 'There are things that you just can't get hands on in the classroom or even at home, playing a computer game,' Issacman said. 'When I came here in Aviation Challenges, I actually got to fly an airplane at 12 years old. I'm at 8000 hours now flying aircraft, and I mean that was all born out of this experience.' The $15 million donation will fund the Space Camp activities happening inside the Inspiration4 Skills Training Complex, including simulated space missions to Mars and the moon, a realistic space station mission including onboard operations, and a mission control center. 'The Inspiration4 Skills Training Complex and the Polaris Dawn mission activities will transform Space Camp,' Robin Soprano, the Vice President of Space Camp, said. 'Through this extraordinary investment, we are building cutting-edge experiences to take our programs and our students into the future.' Albertville man arrested in shooting near Asbury Other features will include an AI-powered mission support specialist, a full-motion interactive Mars and lunar rover, science laboratories, robotics, 3-D printing systems, and holographic displays visualizing planetary environments, spacecraft systems, and mission data. The training complex is named for the crew of the Insiration4, led by Issacman, which achieved the first all-civilian orbital space mission. Issacman is a leading figure in commercial spaceflight. Three years after leading the mission to orbit Earth, Issacman returned to space with the crew of Polaris Dawn, which completed the first commercial space walk. The Inspiration4 Skills Training Complex is set to open for the 2026 summer camp season. After additional fundraising, the USSRC plans to build a fourth dormitory to house Space Camp attendees. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
How One Little Girl Sold Enough Lemonade To Fulfill Her Space Camp Dream
A lemonade stand can be a sweet way for kids to earn a little money on a sunny day. But 11-year-old Ezri Henry from Blue Springs, Missouri did more than fill a few glasses with everyone's favorite refreshing summer beverage and call it an afternoon. In fact, over the past year, her mom Cidne Henry estimates her daughter has sold more than 1,000 glasses of lemonade (and hot chocolate in the winter), to make her dream of attending the U.S. Space and Rocket Center Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama, a reality. Ezri first got interested in the solar system at age 5 because her parents, Cidne and Eric, are space enthusiasts. 'I'm just really fascinated by all that's going on,' Ezri tells Parents about her love of space and desire to become an astronaut. 'There are different planets, and planets beyond our solar system, and I want to experience that for myself.' Her first step in making that happen was to reach out to Research Astronaut Kellie Gerardi on Instagram, at the suggestion of her mom. Gerardi suggested Ezri go to Space Camp to immersive herself in all things space. Then, it was on to fundraising. Her mom shares that Ezri's school and local businesses also helped raise money for her, and the hopeful astronaut received donations from members of the community of up to $50 a pop."There are different planets, and planets beyond our solar system, and I want to experience that for myself."Ultimately, the 11-year-old ended up raising $1,800, and was able to attend Space Camp last June. She loved the experience so much she already plans to keep raising money to go back! 'It was really fun, and I learned a lot of stuff I didn't know,' she says. 'My favorite part was the simulated space mission,' Ezri shares. 'There were a ton of problems, but we got them fixed and we kept going.' She adds that her team had to work together rather than individually. But that's not all she took from the experience. 'My other favorite part was [learning] about the constellations and how people see patterns,' she tells Parents. The mother and daughter duo also shared their tips for helping other kids achieve their camp goals. The most important one? Don't get discouraged, advises Ezri. 'Even if it's hard, keep going because eventually you'll get to your goal,' she says. Here's how to make their dream summer camp a reality, according to Ezri and Cidne: Stay motivated. Ezri says her parents helped her not to give up. Meanwhile, Cidne shares this advice: 'If your child wants to go to Space Camp—or whichever camp they set their sight on—I would say to encourage them to find ways to earn it and work towards it, to always support them, always be behind them, and give them the courage to do so, because it's not going to be easy.' Support kids every step of the way. Cidne says supporting your child's goal is so important. 'If you keep pushing them along, they're going to make it, and they're going to do big things—and you're going to be there to support them through it,' she shares. Foster self-confidence and independence in your child. 'I want her to have the confidence that she can achieve anything her incredible imagination can come up with because she has a huge imagination,' Cidne shares."Even if it's hard, keep going because eventually you'll get to your goal,"As for future plans for Ezri—other than raising more money for Space Camp next year—she hopes to become the first woman on Mars. 'It's definitely going to take a lot of college and a lot of training—and definitely courage,' the inspiring little girl says. Ezri was especially buoyed to continue reaching for the stars by three-time space shuttle astronaut Dr. Jan Davis, who spoke to campers. 'I was just amazed, and it was just crazy seeing a real astronaut,' Ezri shares. 'She kept going and reached her goal.' Indeed, Cidne hopes her daughter's experience at Space Camp helped her begin to develop a mental picture of what her dreams can turn into. 'I hope she looks back at her entire experience and she believes in herself and understands big goals are built on small achievements, one after the other, and that she can reach those big goals.' Read the original article on Parents
New York Post
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Glamorous social media ‘astronaut' faces NASA backlash after claiming she was picked to head to Space
A Brazilian social media star is facing backlash from NASA after she claimed she was selected as a future astronaut for private missions to the Moon and Mars. NASA jacket-wearing content creator Laysa Peixoto revealed that she was 'going to space' as she stood inside a Manhattan skyscraper with the Empire State Building behind her on June 5. 'I was selected to become a career astronaut, performing on manned spaceflights for private space stations, and future manned missions to the Moon and Mars,' she claimed on Instagram. 'I'm officially an astronaut of the Class of 2025 and will be part of the inaugural Titans Space flight.' 5 Laysa Peixoto poses for a photo wearing a NASA Space Camp flight suit. Instagram/astrolaysa Peixoto claimed she would be joining the private space company's maiden voyage in 2029, commanded by NASA veteran astronaut Bill McArthur. The glamorous tech influencer, who boasts 154,000 followers, says she is Brazil's first female astronaut. 'It is a great joy to represent Brazil as an astronaut in such a decisive era of space exploration, that will change history of mankind forever,' Peixoto added. 'It's an honor to carry the flag of Brazil with me as the first Brazilian woman to cross that border.' Only one Brazilian man, Marcos Pontes, has been to space. Pontes made the historic trip to the International Space Station aboard the Soyuz TMA-8 in March 2006. He is also the only Brazil-born man to complete NASA's astronaut training program. 5 Peixoto wears a NASA jacket during a photo shoot in NYC, she used to announce her acceptance to the Titans Space program. Instagram/astrolaysa Peixoto was selected to be a career astronaut at Titans Space. Only American citizens can be selected for the same title at NASA. An April press release states Titans Space's inaugural flight would include McArthur and three other members – Chris Sembroski, Dr. Mindy Howard and Vaseema Hussain among other talented individuals. There was no mention of Peixoto, but her team claims she is a part of the mission squad and the details are outdated. 'The Titans Space website is out of date, information confirmed by Titans Space representative, who also confirmed Laysa's entry into the company's formation,' Peixoto's agent told Brazilian newspaper O Tempo. 5 Peixoto was selected to be a career astronaut at Titans Space. Instagram/astrolaysa Titans Space offers candidates the opportunity to join its 'Inaugural Astronauts' program for $1 million or an open invitation. The program advertises a five-hour space journey aboard the company's Spaceplane and three hours in zero gravity. Titans Space does not hold a license to conduct manned space flights, the US Sun reported. NASA has denied Peixoto's participation in any upcoming missions with the agency. 'While we generally do not comment on personnel, this individual is not a NASA employee, principal investigator, or astronaut candidate,' NASA said, according to the Daily Mail. 5 The glamorous tech influencer, who has 154,000 followers, says she is Brazil's first female astronaut. Instagram/astrolaysa The government space agency said Peixoto had taken part in a workshop, L'Space Academy, with NASA that wasn't an internship or a job. 'It would be inappropriate to claim NASA affiliation as part of this opportunity,' the agency said. Peixoto returned to Instagram on Thursday to address NASA and Titans Space statements, saying she never claimed to have been selected by the American space agency, having only worn a NASA jacket in the post. 'Maybe many of you didn't get a chance to read what I said when I announced 'I'm going to space,' just the title. The text is available here and in it, I mention WHO selected me, and I mention that it's a PRIVATE space program.' 5 The government space agency said Peixoto had taken part in a workshop, L'Space Academy, with NASA that wasn't an internship or a job. Instagram/astrolaysa 'At no time is there a mention of NASA, or that she would be an astronaut for the agency. The post was never edited,' Peixoto's agent told O Tempo. An 'edited' label is attached to Peixoto's post, but there is no indication of what had been changed. The Post has reached out to NASA and Titans Space for comment. Peixoto's educational background has also been questioned after her, now-deleted, LinkedIn page claimed she worked at NASA when she was 19, was a fellow at the German non-profit Max Planck Society, enrolled in an engineering course at MIT and had a Master's Degree from Columbia University, according to CNN Brazil She studied at Brazil's Federal University of Minas Gerais before transferring to Manhattan College, now Manhattan University, in the Bronx, O Tempo reported.
Forbes
12-06-2025
- Science
- Forbes
Two Astronauts On Why You Should Visit Space Camp In Huntsville
These 2 became real astronauts after attending Space Camp as kids. If you're seeking a travel experience that sparks your imagination and immerses you in the past, present, and future of space exploration, consider visiting Huntsville, Alabama. Known as Rocket City, this vibrant Southern hub is home to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center—and, more importantly, to the legendary Space Camp. This is not a museum where you walk through exhibits and read plaques (though it does have one of the most impressive collections of space artifacts in the country). Space Camp is an experience—a hands-on, high-energy, simulator-filled adventure where guests of all ages can step into the boots of astronauts, engineers, and mission commanders. For kids, it's a chance to dream big. For adults, it's an opportunity to reconnect with childhood wonder, push limits, and learn something new. And for some, like Dr. Gretchen Green and Aymette Medina Jorge, it's a starting point for an actual journey to space. Both women flew aboard Blue Origin's recent NS-32 mission. Both trace their achievements back to Space Camp. Gretchen Green was just 12 years old when she first arrived in Huntsville in 1986. She would return three more times, eventually becoming a camp counselor. Today, she's not only a practicing radiologist and entrepreneur—she's also a board member of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center Education Foundation. The trajectory from camper to astronaut is not something she takes lightly. 'It felt like a magical place—where kids like me could step into roles usually reserved for adults and dive into big, complex ideas,' she says. 'At Space Camp, I told my counselor I wanted to be a mission commander. It was outside my comfort zone—but I wanted to lead.' She did, and she thrived, eventually earning awards like Outstanding Trainee and the Right Stuff Award. That mindset—of volunteering before you're ready, asking questions, and stepping into leadership—has stayed with her throughout her life and career. While Green always dreamed of space, her path took a practical turn. She became a physician and didn't discover radiology, a tech-heavy, physics-driven specialty, until medical school. When the field's famously difficult physics exam loomed, she remembered her time at Space Camp. 'If science could get humans to the moon,' she thought, 'I could learn the physics I needed.' Aymette Medina Jorge, a public school teacher from Texas, discovered Space Camp later in life through an educator program. Since then, she has brought groups of students year after year, sharing the same formative experiences that helped inspire her own career. Like Green, Jorge also joined the Blue Origin NS-32 crew, becoming part of the growing wave of civilian space travelers who first dared to dream in Huntsville. It all started at Space Camp. 'They need to go and visit Space Camp,' she says of families and travelers considering a trip. 'It's part of your path to go to space. There were a lot of things I got from Space Camp that I am applying in my classroom right now.' She says the training helped her better translate STEM ideas into engaging activities for her students—and it gave her a new language for discussing space careers in ways that feel accessible and relatable. Arriving in Huntsville, visitors are greeted by a towering Saturn V rocket that looms beside the highway like a monolith of American achievement. Inside the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, guests encounter everything from moon rocks and Apollo spacecraft to a newly redesigned Rocket Park that visually walks visitors through decades of space history. The recently restored Pathfinder shuttle is a striking photo op, and the Training Center's simulators make it easy to imagine yourself in a real launch scenario—even the mission control rooms buzz with purpose, not unlike the actual NASA facilities they emulate. For Green, returning to the campus today is deeply personal. Her daughter—also a Space Camp alum—recently had the chance to interview the Polaris Dawn crew in front of campers. 'It was a full-circle moment,' Green says. 'That spirit of exploration, community, and generosity is alive and well—and it's what makes Space Camp so much more than just a place. It's a launchpad for life.' Jorge describes the arrival even more viscerally. 'You are automatically going to be transported to space,' she says. 'When you see all the rockets in place, you think, 'Am I in a launchpad, and we're ready to go up?' You feel that energy, that enthusiasm, that good vibe. You know, 'I am in the right place to go to space right now.'' Today, the center offers programs for children, families, adults, and educators—each with varying levels of intensity, simulation, and training. The Adult Space Academy is especially popular with curious travelers, space enthusiasts, and even corporate teams seeking a leadership reset. And 2025, designated Alabama's Year of Aviation, offers even more incentive to visit, with special exhibits and restored aircraft, including the T-38, SR-71 Blackbird, and F-14 Tomcat, adding depth to the experience. After returning from space, both Green and Jorge spoke of how seeing Earth from above shifted their perspectives forever. 'To see the Earth from space changes your perspective,' Jorge says. 'You see this infinite black, and you see the Earth with that halo around it with this blue that is so beautiful. You realize two things. First, the greatness of God. And second, that the planet is so fragile. We have to take care of our home.' For Green, the experience was both a culmination and a beginning. 'Going to space was the hardest goal I could imagine—and achieving it brought a joy that touches everything I do now. My kids were inspired to see me work so hard toward what some might call an impossible dream—and succeed.' Whether you want to explore aviation history, rediscover your inner adventurer, or plant a seed of curiosity in the next generation, Huntsville's Space Camp is more than a vacation destination. It's a story you step into—and maybe one that changes your life. As Green puts it: 'Whether you want to become an astronaut or pursue any bold purpose, Space Camp helps you believe in your ability to rise to the challenge.' And sometimes, that belief is all it takes to reach the stars.
South China Morning Post
11-05-2025
- Science
- South China Morning Post
To the stars: junior astronaut training programmes spark interest in space from a young age
The wonders of space exploration have always held a special thrill, and for some fortunate Hong Kong youngsters the chance to learn up-close about the science and operations behind a successful mission is no longer an improbable dream. Advertisement Thanks to a number of exciting initiatives, it is now possible to sign up for 'astronaut training', an eye-opening and character-building experience for every person who takes part. The key elements typically include sessions to explain the principles of space flight, the technology used and different mission objectives. But there may also be opportunities to visit a launch site and control centre, observe technical specialists as they carry out their work here on Earth, and even meet former astronauts. Space Camp alumnus Alex Ngan. Photo: Handout One such initiative is the YF Life Jr Space Camp programme, which began in 1999 with the aim of offering simulated astronaut training for children from Hong Kong and Macau.
