HISD students' experiment heading to space

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- We're counting down to another launch to the International Space Station. And while the launch will be a sight to see, the rocket's cargo is equally impressive. Along with supplies for the ISS, the rocket will carry some experiments created by local students that could lead the way to some major medical advancements.

One of the most impressive things here is the age of these HISD students involved. They are just 14, now freshman in high school. These are winners of a national initiative to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.

After successfully proving the Falcon 9 and Dragon capsule in May, SpaceX is set to launch cargo and science experiments again to the International Space Station.

Former Pershing Middle School students Allie Burns and her classmates will watch the launch knowing the payload this time includes one of their experiments.

"I think it's kind of crazy. I'm still in shock and in disbelief about the thought of something that I did going up into space," Burns said.

Theirs was chosen from over 1,100 submitted nationwide for 23 spots on board the capsule.

"We put a lot of time into it and a lot of work, and it was just a group effort that got us in," student Ivan Arizpe said.

"If you put effort into your work, big things can happen," student Austin Abbott said.

Their experiment will measure how bacteria reacts to an antibiotic in zero gravity.

"Is there any difference to their susceptibility or resistance to antibiotics in space?" teacher Susan Broz said.

This is the second mission for the student space flight experiments program. Fourteen-year-old Emily Soice had an experiment on the first one and gets to send it up again because of a testing snafu last time. Her experiment may show whether pig liver cells can be grown in space and one day if human organs can be cultivated without gravity weighing the cells down.

"We can use those organs as our own," Soice said.

Both experiments have potentially big payoffs for all of us right back here on Earth.

The SpaceX launch is set for Sunday evening from Kennedy Space Center. The experiments will spend about six weeks aboard the space station before being returned home to be compared to an Earth-bound control.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

houston isd, local, kevin quinn

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America's Space City - Houston

Houston Schools' Students Get Hands-On Experience at Space Center

New HPD uniform may strip 'Space City' off shoulder patch

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The Endeavour's short visit, while celebrated, was a sharp reminder that Houston lost out on displaying any of the retired space shuttles it helped guide through NASA's 30-year program.

And now, the shoulder patch that reads "Space City" could also be stripped, at least from a prominent uniform.

The design discussions have been underway for months at employees' request, according to Houston Police Chief Charles McClelland. But one suggestion is drawing a lot of attention after the huge crowds that gathered to say goodbye to the last space shuttle to ever fly to Houston.

If there is any doubt that Houston isn't still enthralled by the shuttle and NASA, consider that by HPD's own estimate, 200,000 people poured into Ellington Field to see a shuttle for the last time, as Endeavor paused on the way to its permanent home in Los Angeles. And the fact that Texas didn't get a retired shuttle is still a sore spot for some.

"I wanna pop the tires so they can't leave again. It should be in Houston," one Houstonian told us.

NASA helped put Houston on the map, creating the term Space City, USA. And it was incorporated into the shoulder patches on HPD uniforms that are still worn today. But for how much longer?

"Change is not a bad thing, Deborah. It's not," Chief McClelland told us.

The department is considering a change of uniforms, from light blue to dark and from dress pants to cargo pants. Even the badges may be changed.

And then there's the shoulder patch. There are four options, three of which read "Justice with Mercy." Only one has the familiar Space City, USA with flight paths circling the globe.

"I see no connection between the Houston Police Department and NASA, except for NASA is located in Houston and we're responsible for public safety in the city of Houston," the chief said.

HPD employees have been asked to give their opinions on the new uniform options, including the shoulder patches. The Houston Police Officers Union's Mark Clark prefers the Space City version.

"NASA will always have been in Houston and Houston will always have been the place where the first man who ever stepped on the moon, he didn't mention New York and didn't mention Los Angeles, it was Houston," Clark said.

Ultimately, it will be the department's decision. The police chief says the officers' preferences will affect the final choice. There is a chance though the patch that was part bragging right may go the way of the shuttle.

McClelland says it will be the police officers who will make the decisions, even though the union will continue to push for its preferences.

Voting concludes September 27.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

houston police department, local, deborah wrigley

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Houston - Have an Out of the World Experience in Space City

Shuttle replica arrives at Space Center Houston

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The space shuttle replica 'Explorer' finally arrived at its new home Sunday after a week-long trek from the Kennedy Space Center and a slow ride from Clear Lake to Space Center Houston.

NASA's mock shuttle arrived in one piece, but the road was paved with obstacles.

The shuttle took nearly six hours to get to its destination -- twice as long as expected.

SkyEye13 HD was overhead as the shuttle left the NASA dock at 6:30am Sunday, which was already a little behind schedule.

People started lining up at 3am to watch.

"It looks awesome. A perfect replica," Nomar Lebron said. "It looks exactly the same [as a real shuttle]."

Workers struggled to maneuver the 122-foot, 130,000-pound wooden replica. Space Center Houston Operations Manager Anson Brantley says workers knew it would be difficult to get something so large down the street. That's why they brought along construction workers and tree trimmers.

"Everything's been measured by the centimeter, basically, as we planned for this event," Brantley said.

But he says no one expected it would take so long to get rid of the obstructions along the way. Removing a traffic light pole took nearly an hour, and then they had to push back dozens of palm trees one by one.

"Just making sure we don't hurt the wings or hurt the shuttle," Brantley said.

Once the shuttle stopped moving and all eyes were on it, the people we spoke to had mixed emotions.

There was a bit of sadness. On everyone's minds was the fact that it's a replica and not a real shuttle that went into space.

"It just kind of reminds you of the good times and the bad times. We've had some triumphs and some sadness here," said Ange Martens, daughter of a NASA contractor. "We didn't get the real one and people are upset about that, but I said I want to see it anyway."

But there was also a sense of pride.

"It's something we are proud of," said Sally Landis, a NASA contractor. "We work on this at NASA. It's pride more than anything else."

"It's something we need down here," NASA contractor Justin Medellin said. "I'm really glad we got something to show for it after all those years of supporting it."

The shuttle's arrival was followed by a "Shuttlebration" at Space Center Houston. The free, family-oriented public celebration offered viewing opportunities of the replica, NASA space exploration exhibits and other fun activities for the entire family.

And the journey isn't over yet. NASA workers still have some work to do.

Once 'Explorer' is fully installed and prepared for visitors, the public will be able to go inside the full-size replica as part of a behind-the-scenes look at life inside a space shuttle. It's an experience that will only be available at Space Center Houston.

The exhibit is currently under construction and is anticipated to open this fall.

The long-term vision calls for a world-class education center to be built that provides historical context and a hands-on educational experience.

The board of Space Center Houston has launched a $3 million capital campaign to fund the transportation costs and underwrite the necessary facilities improvements for the new exhibits, including a dedicated plaza and ramp.

Although the exhibit is not open yet, you can visit Space Center Houston to see the shuttle from the outside if you missed it during its journey. Discount admission is available online.

We received video and photos from many of you who were there to witness the historic trip. Check out the photo gallery and iWitness.abc13.com to view those images.

If you saw 'Explorer,' email your photos and videos to news@abc13.com and we'll post them online!

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Space Shuttle Explorer replica arrives in Galveston

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The space shuttle Explorer is getting some repairs done in Galveston and taking a bit of a rest from its long trip to Clear Lake from Florida.

The seven-day trip from Cape Canaveral left the shuttle replica with some bumps and bruises. Along the trip, a fastener gave way on a wing, causing some damage. A NASA crew wants to make sure repairs are made before today's big celebration.

As it arrived yesterday, plenty of spectators were on hand to watch the full-size replica complete its journey across the Gulf.

"We chased it down to Seawolf Park and then they said that it came down this way, and it was like, wow what a surprise," said Jason Fennelly, who was on hand to see the replica arrive in southeast Texas.

Many people watched the 122-foot long shuttle mock, mounted atop a barge, make its way into Port Bolivar yesterday via SkyEye 13 HD, the last leg of the trip from its home of 18 years at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It's new home soon to be Space Center Houston.

"Seeing it on a barge and having seen it from your helicopter, it's really weird seeing it on the water," said Fennelly.

"History, you know, just something we've never seen before," shuttle watcher Julie Harris said.

The sunset made the replica seem even more majestic, but the fact that it took a barge to bring it here pours a little salt in the wound. A brown pelican even taking flight in front of the unable replica didn't help.

"We should of had a real one," said resident Don Harris.

"I was with NASA for 15 years and it was a big disappointment and I know a lot others were disappointed, but this is the next best thing," said Fennelly.

"Mockup is better than nothing, I guess," said Harris.

The shuttle replica will arrive in Clear Lake this afternoon.

"Shuttlebration" schedule of events:

Friday, June 1:

* 2:00 PM - Event Area Open to Public
Transportation to and from Johnson Space Center will begin. Street party area will include NASA space exploration exhibits, music and entertainment from 2pm - 9pm.
* 3-5:00 PM Shuttle Replica Arrives at NASA Dock with Fire Boat Water Arch
* 4:30 PM Welcome Ceremony & T-38 Flyover
* 6:30 - 8:30 Music by Max Q, the all Astronaut Band
9:00 PM Fireworks Display on Clear Lake
10:00 PM Final Tram Returns to Parking Area
* Schedule subject to change

Saturday, June 2:
The space shuttle replica will be loaded onto a mobile transfer vehicle for transport to SCH. The lakeside load-out will take a full day to complete. There are no public events planned for this day.

Sunday, June 3:
5:00 - 8:00 AM - Replica transported along NASA Parkway from JSC dock to Space Center Houston. NASA Parkway and NASA 1 Bypass will be closed from 5 AM - 9 AM
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM - Following the arrival, there will be a free, family-oriented public celebration in the Space Center Houston parking lot, offering viewing opportunities of the replica, NASA space exploration exhibits, fun activities for the entire family and much more. Discount admission to Space Center Houston is available online.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

nasa, johnson space center, shuttle, galveston, clear lake, local, erik barajas

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'Shuttlebration' planned for arrival of shuttle replica at Space Center Houston

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Space Center Houston is getting ready for the arrival of a full-size replica of a space shuttle this weekend.

The barge carrying the shuttle replica is about 150 miles or so off of Galveston. It's expected to arrive to Clear Lake on Friday, and the museum and its neighbors are getting ready for what they are calling a "Shuttlebration."

In a bare field next to Space Center Houston, workers are putting the last touches on a series of concrete pillars. This is where the full-size replica of the space shuttle will rest, once it gets here.

Richard Allen with Space Center Houston said, "It's about 130 feet long. From the ground to the tip of the tail is about 57 feet and the wingspan is 78 feet."

The replica is coming by water, on a barge from Florida. The new addition is something visitors both very young and those old enough to have followed the space program are looking forward to.

Alex Thomas, age 4, said, "The rocket shuttle is some kind of place like they start the rocket and blast off."

"We're in our 60s now, it started in our youth, our early adulthood," said visitor Lesley Petherick.

But getting the replica to the museum is tricky. That effectively locks in the people who live in the neighborhood behind the Hilton, but they don't seem to mind.

"We realize somebody has to put up with the traffic and the noise, but we're more than glad to do that," said neighbor Frank Muffeneny.

In fact, plenty of parties are planned in this quiet neighborhood and the only criticism here isn't about the weekend traffic.

"I really think we should have gotten one of the other vehicles," Muffeneny said.

Shuttlebration schedule of events:

Friday, June 1:

* 2:00 PM - Event Area Open to Public
Transportation to and from Johnson Space Center will begin. Street party area will include NASA space exploration exhibits, music and entertainment from 2pm - 9pm.
* 3-5:00 PM Shuttle Replica Arrives at NASA Dock with Fire Boat Water Arch
* 4:30 PM Welcome Ceremony & T-38 Flyover
* 6:30 - 8:30 Music by Max Q, the all Astronaut Band
9:00 PM Fireworks Display on Clear Lake
10:00 PM Final Tram Returns to Parking Area
* Schedule subject to change

Saturday, June 2:
The space shuttle replica will be loaded onto a mobile transfer vehicle for transport to SCH. The lakeside load-out will take a full day to complete. There are no public events planned for this day.

Sunday, June 3:
5:00 - 8:00 AM - Replica transported along NASA Parkway from JSC dock to Space Center Houston. NASA Parkway and NASA 1 Bypass will be closed from 5 AM - 9 AM
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM - Following the arrival, there will be a free, family-oriented public celebration in the Space Center Houston parking lot, offering viewing opportunities of the replica, NASA space exploration exhibits, fun activities for the entire family and much more. Discount admission to Space Center Houston is available online.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

nasa, johnson space center, shuttle, local, adela uchida

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The Houston Zoo and Houston Space Center - Two Houston Attractions the Kids Will Love