Education Manager goes to Wallops Rocket Academy for Teachers

Earlier this month, our Education and Public Programs Manager, Becah Jubon, traded the museum floor for the launch pad when she spent a week at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, part of the Goddard Space Flight Center. She was selected to participate in the Wallops Rocket Academy for Teachers—better known as WRATS.

This unique program brings middle and high school educators from across the country to Wallops Island, Virginia, for an immersive week of rocketry. The academy gives teachers a rare chance to step into the role of aerospace engineers, combining authentic

technical training with hands-on learning that strengthens science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education.

Throughout the week, participants built and launched three model rockets. Before liftoff, they studied the physics behind safe landings, calculating the size and design of parachutes, then constructed and tested them during two of their launches. One of the highlights of the week came when the group witnessed a real NASA sounding rocket launch—up close, from less than a mile away.

Becah returned from WRATS with fresh ideas and renewed inspiration for bringing the excitement of space exploration into our own museum programs.  Look for workshops and field trip lessons coming soon!