In a unique program matching the talents of local high school students with the needs of the space agency, students from three Alabama and Texas schools used their time in industrial engineering classes to build custom-designed astronaut training hardware for NASA.

When a NASA engineer approached a Houston-area school late last year to investigate a possible partnership, a new program was born that provided the students with hands-on experience, inspired them through their personal contribution to the space program and saved taxpayers thousands of dollars.

Soon three schools were lined up to participate in the pilot program named “HUNCH” or High school students United with NASA to Create Hardware. The schools include Clear Creek High School in Houston and the Huntsville Center for Technology and Brewer High School, both in Alabama.

The school teams are now ready to deliver their finished multi-use Space Station stowage lockers to the agency. Thirty new containers will be presented to NASA representatives at a special event May 11. Media are invited to attend.

What: CCHS students and Clear Creek Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Sandra Mossman present hardware to Bill Gerstenmaier, NASA International Space Station Program Manager.

Date: Tuesday, May 11

Time: 9 a.m. – 10 a.m.

Where: Clear Creek High School, Building Trades Facility

Media planning to attend the event should contact the CCHS Public Information Office at 281-338-5803 to arrange credentials and should plan to arrive at the school’s main office no later than 8:30 a.m.

For more information about NASA on the Internet, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

A taped videofile of the event will be broadcast later on NASA TV. NASA Television is available on AMC-9, transponder 9C, C-Band, located at 85 degrees west longitude. The frequency is 3880.0 MHz. Polarization is vertical, and audio is monaural at 6.80 MHz. For information about NASA TV on the Internet, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html

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