Kids in Space

from AviNation Magazine Winter 2021

Wally Funk for Space Exploration

Kids in Space Kids in Space

by Terry Lloyd

Did you know that the Department of Defense (DoD) has a number of working StarBases across the United States, and some of them have been in operation for the last 27 years? There are actually 69 StarBases across the continental U.S., Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.

While the term StarBase evokes visions of spaceships docking in orbit around exotic planets, or ground facilities to launch probes into the vastness of deep space, these StarBases exist to launch young people into careers in science, technology, engineering, and math, or STEM. Each StarBase, located on an Air Force, Army, Marine National Guard, or Reserve base, provides students 25 hours of “hands-on, minds-on” according to the Department of Defense website. Examples include spending time in an F-18 simulator learning the science of aeronautics or exploring the interior of a submarine to help understand the laws of physics.

The StarBase Program focuses on 5th graders and has a StarBase 2.0 after school program for 6th-8th graders. The goal of the program is to spark interest in the STEM fields early enough so that students can make logical choices to pursue more focused opportunities, such as Civil Air Patrol, while they continue their education. During the school year, the program typically runs for five weeks, five days per week. There are also summer academies run for one five-day week. A special focus of StarBases is serving areas, such as inner-city urban or rural areas, which are traditionally underrepresented in STEM fields. At-risk youth, students with low academic performance, and those that have a disability are in the StarBase target group.

DoD’s StarBase program is sponsored by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, in recognition of how important educating young Americans in the STEM fields are to achieving and maintaining our leads in these fields. As with all things related to education, the COVID-19 pandemic has put all Star Base programs on hold until school systems resume normal activity, or at least until new post-pandemic protocols emerge in the overall educational system. One new StarBase location is really a “star base” itself, sort of. The program will soon start up at the Air Force’s 45th Space Wing, which operates the Cape Canaveral launch complex, and provides essential infrastructure and range support for the National Air and Space Administration (NASA) Kennedy Space Center’s two adjacent launch pads. These pads are where Americans, departed for the moon and where the Space Shuttle program operated for decades.