Space Oddity

This year on July 20th, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. In 1969, 2 young astronauts did something no one had done before. They took "one small step for man" and "giant leap(s)" for mankind. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin are not only held in high regard to the space program and America, but Neil is one of the many astronauts from Ohio!

Neil Armstrong was born in Wapakoneta, Ohio in August of 1930 and was later a professor at the University of Cincinnati. Along with him, John Glenn, Judith Resnik, and Jim Lovell all hail from Ohio as well. Each one of these individuals had a significant impact on the space program and continue to be remembered for their accomplishments now. Ohio is one of the top states in the US to produce astronauts to the NASA program and to ultimately take flights. 

So what does this all mean? With more school programs being geared towards science, schools specifically meant for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and even toys having a space theme, its showing kids that being a "rocket scientist" may not be such a far grasp after all. Back-to-school is only a few weeks away and with all of the upcoming back to school events, its time to inspire kids to take their dreams to a galaxy far far away! 

Links to help send you into orbit:

• 13 Colleges That Have Produced the Most Astronauts
• 11 things to know about the historic Apollo 11 mission
• Ohio STEM Learning Network
• Lego's 'Women of NASA' sale lifts off, lands as best-selling toy