Baldwin-Whitehall Teacher Launches Close Connection To NASA

Debbie Reynolds will be in Orlando on Monday, but the Baldwin-Whitehall School District teacher won’t be getting an early start to spring break at Disney World. She’s going to Florida to witness a rocket launch.

The Harrison Middle School science and STEM instructor will observe NASA’s Orbital ATK mission launch. The spacecraft will transport the rocket will deliver several tons of supplies, to the International Space Station, including new science experiments and technology research.

Reynolds is one of 50 members of the public invited to watch the launch as participants in the NASA Social program. She’ll also have the opportunity to tour the Kennedy Space Center, speak with members of NASA’s social media team and other NASA officials.

This won’t be Reynolds’ first close encounter with a NASA event. In February, she was one of 36 science teachers nationwide selected to attend the Space Educator Expedition Crew Program in Houston. Among the astronauts she spoke to there was Nancy Currie-Gregg, a veteran of four space shuttle missions.

At Harrison, Reynolds teaches a science class that uses a Dream Flight Adventures simulator, an interactive teaching tool. The simulator enables students to complete various missions, including being launched into space. Harrison is one of just seven schools in the country using the simulator.

Photo via Baldwin-Whitehall School District.