Former astronaut fields space questions online

MAT-SU -- Former astronaut Col. Mark Lee will participate in an online chat Thursday between 3:30 and 4:30 p.m.

Students, teachers and space enthusiasts may submit questions in advance that are related to space flight.

Lee served as a NASA astronaut for 17 years and has more than 28 years of aerospace experience. Lee participated in four successful space missions and four spacewalks. He successfully planned and conducted five activities outside space shuttles, including an untethered space walk.

Lee's major technical experience includes aeronautics, operations management, training and development, systems engineering and space-flight hardware development. He earned his master of science degree in mechanical engineering at MIT and his bachelor of science degree in civil engineering at the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Space Explorers Inc, an eight-year-old company, specializes in bringing the excitement and challenges of space exploration into classrooms worldwide. Space Explorers promotes discovery, inquiry and analysis by offering standards-based curricula, mission simulations and experiments that incorporate actual NASA data.

Through Internet-based programs, the company encourages students to explore and pursue careers in science, math and technology.

Public Relations Manager Chrissy Paape said Space Explorers serves all 50 states and 24 countries worldwide.

"Space Explorers can be applied to any kind of schooling, either public or private," Paape said. "We also serve quite a few schools in Alaska."

Typically, the program hosts live online chats each month, which are free to the public.

Contact Joel Davidson at joel.davidson@frontiersman.com.