Helena student successfully graduates from Space Camp Aviation Challenge

Published 4:15 pm Wednesday, August 8, 2018

FROM STAFF REPORTS

HUNTSVILLE – Andrew Robertson of Helena recently attended Aviation Challenge Mach II at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center located in Huntsville within the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center’s Official Visitor Center.

The weeklong educational program promotes science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), while training students and adults with hands-on activities and missions based on teamwork, leadership and problem solving.

This program is specifically designed for students who have an interest in military aviation and the mechanics of flight. Students learn principles of aviation and put their knowledge to the test in a variety of flight simulators. Taking the role of fighter pilots, Robertson and team ran control systems and scenario based missions as well as trained in water and land survival. At the end of the week, Robertson and crew returned in time to graduate with honors.

Aviation Challenge opened in 1990 in Huntsville and uses fighter pilot training techniques to engage trainees in real-world applications of STEM subjects. Students sleep in barracks designed to resemble military bays.

More than 750,000 trainees have graduated from Space Camp and its sister programs since its inception in Huntsville in 1982, including European Space Agency astronaut, Samantha Cristoforetti and NASA astronauts Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger, Dr. Kate Rubins and Dr. Serena Auñón, who recently launched to the International Space Station. Children and teachers from all 50 states and 69 international locations have attended a Space Camp program.

For more information, visit Spacecamp.com/aviation or call 1-800-637-7223.