Northeast High’s space program, whose wings seemed permanently clipped just a few months ago, will be flying again next week.
The kids who participate in the Space Research Center in Northeast’s Medical, Engineering and Aerospace Magnet School will headed — virtually speaking — to the moon for their annual two-day mission on Thursday, May 22, and Friday, May 23.
“Our mission is to establish a permanent colony on the moon,” said Joseph Connelly, Project SPARC program director.
The mission will have two launches, Connelly told the Northeast Times in a May 11 email.
“A Delta 4 rocket with an Orion capsule attached will carry our crew of four astronauts. The other rocket will be an Aries rocket that will carry six months of crew supplies to the habitat on the moon,” Connelly stated.
Two astronauts will stay behind when the others head home, he said.
This will be a final flight for many of the SPARC students. They’ll be graduating this year.
Connelly said the school’s SPARC wing will remain open after school from 3 to 5:30 p.m. so visitors can see the new equipment and technology upgrades made possible by Northeast High alums and by Northeast residents. The magnet school is located on the Summerdale Avenue side of Northeast High, 1601 Cottman Ave.
SPARC, like all nonsports extracurricular activities, was cut for financial reasons earlier this year. Fundraising online and off helped bring in the money to keep it going. ••
