Teachers selected for microgravity flight

WASHINGTON, April 20 (UPI) -- The U.S. space agency and the National Science Teachers Association have selected teachers to take part in an experiment in microgravity.

NASA says the selected high school teachers -- from Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, Missouri, New York, North Carolina and Washington -- will work with their students to propose, design, fabricate and evaluate an experiment the teachers will fly in a reduced gravity environment.

"The overall experience will include scientific research, hands-on design and test operations aboard a modified Boeing 727 jetliner," NASA said.

The Zero-Gravity Corp. of Las Vegas will conduct the flights July 29 to Aug. 7 in cooperation with NASA.

"This is another innovative NASA project for students and educators to work on actual flight projects that use the unique environment of space while applying their academic knowledge in science, technology, engineering and mathematics," said Joyce Winterton, NASA's associate administrator for Education.

Teams selected are:

-- Delaware Agriscience Teachers, Middletown High School, Middletown, Del.

-- Dover (Del,) High School/Capital School District.

-- A team of Einstein Fellows, who are teachers spending a year in Washington at a congressional office or a federal agency.

-- Fairport (N.Y.) High School/Fairport Central School District.

-- Fulton (Mo.) High School.

-- Greensboro (N.C.) Day School.

-- Jackson (Mo.) High School.

-- Jefferson County Public Schools and Trussville City Schools/Hewitt Trussville High School in Homewood, Ala., and the University of Alabama, Birmingham.

-- Muscogee County School District in Columbus, Ga.

-- New Deal High School/New Deal Independent School District in New Deal, Texas.

-- Northbrook High School/Spring Branch Independent School District in Houston.

-- Van Alstyne High School/Van Alstyne Independent School District in Van Alstyne, Texas.