Space Academy for Cannon youth

by 2nd Lt. Angelica Powell
27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs

8/26/2013 - CANNON AFB, N.M. -- More than 150 Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., youth and volunteers participated in the New Mexico Space Academy hosted here by the New Mexico Museum of Space History Aug. 11-12.

The event provided the dependents of servicemen and women the opportunity to diversify their interests and discover a love for science.

"When the Company Grade Officers' Council hosted the spring sports clinic, we noticed a desire from the community to not only provide physical activities for Cannon kids, but also for education-centered events," said Capt. Joshua Payne, CGOC vice president and lead organizer for the space academy. "This was an opportunity for our children to gain a love for the sciences through fun and exploration."

The program activities consisted of building and launching rockets, alien autopsy, star lab, a zero gravity ride, and character building. The children were separated by age into three teams, to participate at each station with the appropriate level of difficulty.

Toward the end of the space academy, the children were supplied T-shirts and fabric markers to fashion a memento of their own making.

Although this event was hosted by the CGOC, representatives from The Cannon Community Chapel, Cannon Spouses Club, Sierra Nevada Corporation, Army & Air Force Exchange Service, and parents gave of their time and effort to make the two-day event a special experience for all involved.