Each year, the NASA Explorer Schools (NES) program partners 50 school teams with NASA for a three-year period to participate in real-life experiences that inspire and excite students' imaginations. The goal is to spark their interest in pursuing careers in science, technology and engineering.

"We're counting on the next generation of explorers to help carry the torch of exploration to the farthest regions of the universe," said NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe. "There used to be a saying that the sky is the limit. Well, in this first year of the second century of flight, the sky and the heavens are not the limit, but rather the starting point of our exploration adventures."

Administrator O'Keefe and NASA's Dr. Adena Loston, Associate Administrator for Education, joined astronauts Scott Altman and Frank Caldeiro, students and teachers for this significant announcement. The astronauts were on hand to meet and greet the youngsters and answer questions about the space program.

"Students are actively participating in research problem solving and design challenges related to actual NASA missions," said Dr. Loston. "The program is working."

Administrator O'Keefe complimented the teachers on the way they take the material NASA provides them during the summer months of training and translate it into subjects that motivate and enthuse the students.

NASA's education effort has brought back the excitement of teaching and learning about math, science and technology to the classroom. Students learn right along with scientists as they gather data from experiments currently being performed on the International Space Station and by the Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity.

Earlier in the day, the 2003 NASA Explorer Schools recognized ClearOne Communications for donating videoconferencing equipment that enhanced the student's learning activities by gaining the ability to connect to NASA field centers across the country as part of NASA's Digital Learning Network.

During the week, Walt Disney's Epcot Center hosted a group of approximately 250 teachers and students for a day at the park centering on the main attraction, Mission: SPACE. The students had a "blast" inside the X-2 capsule that simulated a launch into space, using joysticks and buttons while looking at "outer space" on their video screens.

Catherine Graves, the NASA Explorer School team leader from Lorain, Ohio, spoke to the group about the positive change and excitement in the community brought about by the program.

"There's possibility where others have seen the impossible, and the dream of our children can be inspired by the hope and promise space exploration gives to our future," Graves said. "Thank you hardly seems enough for everything the NES program has done for our students, teachers, our school, and the community of Lorain. You truly have inspired us and shown us that no dream is impossible."