Baylor University || The Center for Astrophysics, Space Physics, and Engineering Research (CASPER) || NASA Astronaut Sandra Magnus:

A superhero in a spacesuit

by Mary Senter

Athletes, movie stars, rock stars, and superheroes: look out! Your popularity may be waning and the luster of your autograph might not be so bright now that a group of students from Lake Air Intermediate have met Sandy Magnus. Although few of the approximately 25 students actually knew of her before they heard her speak on the Baylor University campus, they have by now and most certainly added NASA astronauts to the list of desirable autographs to collect.

Dr. Sandra Magnus, a NASA astronaut since 1996, just returned from a four-month stay aboard the International Space Station. Magnus has logged five months and nearly 55 million miles in orbit. She was in Waco for "NASA Week in Waco," an event that was hosted by Baylor University and CASPER (Center for Astrophysics, Space Physics and Engineering Research).

As part of her tour, Magnus visited with a group of students from Lake Air Intermediate who are participating in an after school space program called, "CASPER’s Space Place."

The after school club, which meets weekly, is led by Dr. Cynthia Hernandez, assistant director for educational outreach and research for CASPER at Baylor University. The club is an outreach project that is designed to encourage fifth- and sixth- grade students to pursue and excel in advanced math and science classes.

"I wanted to start something through CASPER that would capture the students interest in science," Hernandez said.

Hernandez has designed a curriculum that will stimulate critical thinking and develop problem-solving skills in students. One of her goals is to help students discover exciting science careers for the 21st century.

Throughout the year, the students will be engaged in a variety of hands-on activities in the field of astrophysics. They will also participate in NASA’s Engineering Design Challenge, a scientific experiment with NASA that involves the growth of plants on the moon.

Hernandez learned of "Astronaut Week in Waco" and seized the opportunity for her space club students to meet a real astronaut.

The students traveled by bus to Baylor University to meet with Magnus in a classroom setting.

"This place is huge," several students noticed as they walked into the Baylor Sciences Building. For some, it was their first trip to the Baylor campus.

After a short cookie and punch reception, the students took turns asking Magnus a variety of thought-provoking and insightful questions.

"What’s it like to live in space?"

"What does zero gravity feel like?"

"What does the food taste like?"

"How many rockets does it take to get to space?"

"Where do you get your clothes?"

"What is the temperature in space?"

"Have you ever been to Mars?"

The students pelted her with questions, one after the other. Magnus hurriedly tried to answer every question with as much detail as possible. One student even made a suggestion for Magnus to take back to NASA.

"About the Mars thing, here is something to think about when you go back to NASA: Has NASA ever thought about sending a rover to Mars with a little shovel attached to it?"

Yes, in fact, they have recently done that, Magnus explained, full of praise for the student for the idea.

During her most recent space flight to the International Space Station, Magnus and her crew installed several major upgrades to the station, including a water regeneration system and a new solar panel. Overall, she and her crew accomplished twice the amount of science originally planned for their mission.

After her presentation, a crowd of students gathered around Magnus to plead for an autograph. Few may have known her name at breakfast that day, but after her presentation, all were in awe of the woman in the blue NASA astronaut suit.

After all, she could probably hit a golf ball farther than Tiger Woods…in space.