Keeping the International Space Station operational is a monumental effort. A team of local high schoolers contributed to that effort and were recently recognized for their work.
George Kessler, project manager from NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, visited Denbigh Aviation Academy in Newport News, Virginia, June 10.
Kessler spoke to more than a dozen HUNCH students and their instructor responsible for the design and assembly of crew training single stowage lockers, identified as the only NASA HUNCH school in the country to assemble high-fidelity training hardware that crew members will use in daily training when familiarizing themselves with the International Space Station (ISS) and its various hardware and systems.
“We appreciate what you’re doing,” he said.
In its 16th year, HUNCH, or High school students United with NASA to Create Hardware, develops high school students in many ways by highlighting their talents in order to contribute to NASA’s missions. The program provides students hands-on experience with the space agency — such as building NASA-designed parts for use by agency personnel, or food for astronauts to enjoy.
“I am incredibly proud of the work of Denbigh Aviation Academy HUNCH students and their instructor,” said Yolanda Simmons, Langley’s NASA Research Center’s HUNCH program manager. “Their dedication, hard work, and attention to detail have not gone unnoticed. Due to their superb workmanship, the NASA HUNCH Program Office has requested the assembly of two lockers per year by Denbigh Aviation Academy HUNCH students.”
The stowage lockers the Denbigh Aviation Academy students made can be used to store payloads such as space mechanical parts, food and other items. The lockers are also made to house experiments and projects onboard the station inside racks.
“They are a very key part in resupplying the space station,” Kessler said. “They’re hard to work on, too.”
Kessler asked the students what they’ve learned through the process. Many were impressed about the effort it took for a metal locker to be fit for ISS use, a fact not lost on one student.
“Hardware is time,” said Denbigh Aviation Academy student Hope Breeding. “It’s not just material.”
During his visit, Kessler also brought a flight locker panel for the students and instructor to sign that will be flown aboard the ISS.
“We’re all very proud of you at Johnson,” Kessler said.
Eric Gillard
NASA Langley Research Center