Innovative Program Developed With Zero-G Corporation

Aero-News learned Monday that Northrop Grumman has been recognized by the California Space Authority (CSA) for developing and providing teachers with a unique, "hands free" educational tool designed to motivate the nation's students to seek careers in scientific and technical fields.

Northrop Grumman received the 2006 Buzz Aldrin Space Education & Workforce Award from the California Space Authority for its Weightless Flights of Discovery teacher development program. The award was presented to Northrop Grumman at CSA's annual SpotBeam Awards dinner held November 30 in Los Angeles.

The company received CSA's 2006 Buzz Aldrin Space Education and Workforce Award for its Weightless Flights of Discovery program, a one-of-a-kind teacher development program that uses science workshops and parabolic "zero-gravity" aircraft flights to help educators teach students how math, science and engineering principles apply in microgravity space environments.

The award ceremony was part of the CSA's annual Transforming Space Conference. The award is one of more than a dozen SpotBeam awards that CSA presents annually to citizens and California space companies that make extraordinary contributions to US leadership in the international space community.

Tom Vice (above, left), a Northrop Grumman vice president who inspired the development of the Weightless Flights of Discovery program, accepted the award on behalf of the company.

"This program is really about a passion Northrop Grumman has for making sure our nation remains a global, competitive leader in science and technology," said Vice. "We wanted to do something that was proactive, that would allow us to partner directly with teachers, because teachers are truly the heart and soul of our future. We're excited that we've been able to add value to their classrooms and perhaps help inspire today's students to become tomorrow's explorers and technical innovators."

Northrop Grumman defined and developed the Weightless Flights of Discovery in cooperation with Zero Gravity (ZERO-G) Corporation of Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Between June and September, the companies conducted workshops and zero-gravity flights in five regions of the country, providing "once-in-a-lifetime" teaching experiences to approximately 250 teachers representing 49 states, five US territories and 24 countries. Over the next year, those teachers will reach an estimated 10,000 elementary, middle school and high school children with the lessons of this unique "high school."

In addition to managing and driving the Weightless Flights program, Northrop Grumman provided approximately $60,000 in grants to US teachers involved in the program. Those grants were made by the Northrop Grumman Foundation.

FMI: www.northropgrumman.com, www.gozerog.com, www.californiaspaceauthority.org