Angelina College Instructors to Witness Space Shuttle Launch

When the Space Shuttle Endeavor lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center at 4:39 a.m. Sunday morning, Feb. 7th in Florida, creating the glorious spectacle that accompanies every such launch, a pair of Angelina College Science and Math instructors will be among the awed witnesses fortunate enough to view the event.

Dr. Sally Haas recently received a personal invitation from Mike Coats, Director of the Johnson Space Center in Houston, who has become familiar with Haas’ work with the Community College Aerospace Scholar program. Haas and Elaine Russell have, for the past several years, worked diligently in preparing and escorting qualified AC students for the annual pilgrimage to the JSC for seminars designed to show those students the numerous opportunities in aerospace technology available through their studies and science, math and engineering.

Ironically, Haas said she had the e-mailed message in hand for quite a while before reading it; she had no idea the letter contained such a special invitation.

“We were in the middle of in-service training and registration, so I only had time to print it, thinking I’d read it if things ever slowed a little,” Haas said. “I didn’t have time at all that Wednesday, and didn’t get to look at it until the next day. I saw it was an invitation to see the shuttle launch and thought, ‘That would be neat to do. Wonder who sent this and why it came to me?’”

Haas replied to the sender just to see why the e-mail came to her; she was informed she was on a very special list of recipients that included instructors from Harvard, Rice, Purdue and other universities.

“I didn’t want to be like the couple that just showed up at the White House,” Haas laughed. “I had to confirm it was a real invitation.”

Haas learned she’d been selected because of her dedication to the CCAS program, to which she said, “I’m committed to providing NASA experiences to my students here at AC. I think my own enthusiasm continues to spill over onto those students, and together we make it a memorable experience.”

The Endeavor will be carrying the last piece of the International Space Station Tranquility.

“Do you know how many times I’ve seen that piece of the ISS sitting on the floor of one of the rooms we tour on every CCAS program?” Haas said. “This is like a dream, only it’s real, and I’m going to see all these pieces put into action.

“I can’t believe this is really happening.”

Accompanying Haas will be her friend and fellow CCAS mentor, Elaine Russell, who Haas said “has put so much of herself into our students and our visits to NASA.”

“I’ve felt a connection with NASA ever since they landed on the moon on my birthday while I was in college,” Russell said. “I guess my main feelings are awe and excitement that I’m actually getting to see a shuttle launch.

“I feel very privileged to accompany Sally to this event. I think the experience will give us some experiences to share with the students involved in the changes in our curriculum for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics majors. All I can say is I’m very, very excited.”

Angelina College Science and Math instructors Elaine Russell (left) and Dr. Sally Haas will be on-hand to witness the launching of the Space Shuttle Endeavor Feb. 7th at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.