WALTHAM, Mass., July 16, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- On today's
50th anniversary of the launch of Apollo 11—the NASA mission that first landed
humans on the moon—the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation and
Raytheon (NYSE: RTN) announce the recipients of the JFK Space Labs
presented by Raytheon. The program, developed in cooperation with
the International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory,
honors the inspirational heritage of President Kennedy, celebrates
the innovative technology that made America's Apollo program possible and rekindles the
power of space exploration to inspire and engage students.
The following middle and high schools will receive a JFK Space
Lab at the start of the 2019–2020 school year. Of eligible schools
named for President Kennedy, these five were selected for their
demonstrated commitment to STEM education and their efforts to
honor President Kennedy's legacy and spirit.
- John F. Kennedy Middle School (Woburn, Mass.)
- John F. Kennedy High School
(Grenada Hills, Calif.)
- John F. Kennedy High School
(Denver, Colo.)
- Kennedy Middle School
(Albuquerque, NM)
- John F. Kennedy Middle School
(Grand Prairie, Texas)
Each JFK Space Lab presented by Raytheon includes technology and
materials for advanced experiments in Earth science, biology and computer science
that will immerse and inspire students, helping them achieve a
deeper understanding of scientific principles on earth and in
space. In the JFK Space Lab, students will:
- Grow plants with special cameras and sensors
- Perform DNA analysis with the same equipment used on the
ISS
- Complete an online course that includes a simulated mission to
the ISS
- Monitor the orbital path of the ISS
- Venture outdoors with antennas and other software to attempt
radio contact with the ISS and other entities
- Build an electronics kit to explore heat flows and then write
code to operate the same experiment on the ISS
All labs are led by school-designated teachers with training and
maintenance support from the ISS National Lab. Because each
experiment is connected to the International Space Station,
students can compare their JFK Space Lab experiment results with
real scientists and astronauts in space.
"These five schools emerged as ideal candidates for JFK Space
Labs because they demonstrated a commitment to advance STEM
education throughout their school community, as well as to honor
the legacy of their namesake," said Steven
M. Rothstein, executive director of the John F. Kennedy
Library Foundation. "It was President Kennedy who inspired
America's first national moonshot and ushered in an era of
unprecedented science and technology innovation. The JFK Space Labs
program, made possible by Raytheon's generous support, carries his
legacy forward by using STEM to excite today's youth to continue
improving and advancing life on Earth and beyond."
"Like other programs in our STEM education partner network, JFK
Space Labs promises to engage students by immersing them in
the science and research that astronauts are performing 250
miles above their classrooms every day," said ISS National Lab
Chief Operating Officer Ken Shields.
"Together with Raytheon and the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation,
we look forward to implementing these labs at schools that are
going above and beyond to inspire the next generation of moonshot
thinkers."
The JFK Space Labs program is made possible by Raytheon's
$1.5 million sponsorship of the John
F. Kennedy Library Foundation to commemorate the 50th anniversary
of the Apollo 11 moon landing and
the technological leadership of the nation's first moonshot. For
more information about JFK Space Labs and its complimentary
companion program, JFK Space Labs Explorers, visit
https://www.jfklibrary.org/jfk-space-labs.
About Raytheon
Raytheon Company, with 2018 sales of $27
billion and 67,000 employees, is a technology and innovation
leader specializing in defense, civil government and cybersecurity
solutions. With a history of innovation spanning 97 years, Raytheon
provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration,
C5I™ products and services, sensing, effects, and
mission support for customers in more than 80 countries. Raytheon
is headquartered in Waltham, Mass.
Follow us on Twitter.
About the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation and John F.
Kennedy Presidential Library
The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation is a 501(c)(3), non-profit
organization founded in 1984 to provide financial support,
staffing, and creative resources for the John F. Kennedy
Presidential Library and Museum, a presidential library
administered by the National Archives and Records Administration.
The Kennedy Presidential Library and the Kennedy Library Foundation
seek to promote, through educational and community programs, a
greater appreciation and understanding of American politics,
history, and culture, the process of governing and the importance
of public service.
Visit www.jfklibrary.org for the latest announcements and
calendar of events.
Media Contacts
Mike Doble
Raytheon
703.284.4345
corporatepr@raytheon.com
Terence Burke
JFK Library Foundation
617.901.1697
terence.burke@jfklfoundation.org
View original content to download
multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/john-f-kennedy-namesake-schools-in-five-states-selected-to-receive-jfk-space-labs-from-raytheon-and-john-f-kennedy-library-foundation-300883910.html
SOURCE Raytheon Company