Astronomy Outreach Program Takes Texas Teachers on Trip of a Lifetime

April 13, 2015 • by Steven E. Franklin

A Department of Astronomy outreach program achieved the culmination of 17 years of hard work recently when several Texas teachers flew as part of the science team aboard NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA).


Four members of the team stand in front of the EXES instrument on board the SOFIA aircraft. They are, from left to right: Jeff Sralla, middle school teacher from Round Rock, Texas; Spencer Martin, a high school teacher from Manor, Texas; Dr. Keely Finkelstein, UT research associate and education team lead for the EXES Teacher Associate Program; and Dr. Tommy Greathouse, a research scientist at the Southwest Research Institute and an EXES Instrument science team member.

Four members of the team stand in front of the EXES instrument on board the SOFIA aircraft. They are, from left to right: Jeff Sralla, middle school teacher from Round Rock, Texas; Spencer Martin, a high school teacher from Manor, Texas; Dr. Keely Finkelstein, UT research associate and education team lead for the EXES Teacher Associate Program; and Dr. Tommy Greathouse, a research scientist at the Southwest Research Institute and an EXES Instrument science team member.

With the sliding door over its 17-ton infrared telescope wide open, NASA's SOFIA soars over California's snow-covered Southern Sierras on a test flight. Credit: NASA/Jim Ross

With the sliding door over its 17-ton infrared telescope wide open, NASA’s SOFIA soars over California’s snow-covered Southern Sierras on a test flight. Credit: NASA/Jim Ross

Three team members prepare to board SOFIA. From left to right: Maureen Adams, an elementary school principal in Killeen, Texas; Dr. Matt Richter, EXES lead scientist at UC Davis; and David Temple, a high school teacher in Longview, Texas.

Three team members prepare to board SOFIA. From left to right: Maureen Adams, an elementary school principal in Killeen, Texas; Dr. Matt Richter, EXES lead scientist at UC Davis; and David Temple, a high school teacher in Longview, Texas.

MJ Tykoski, an 8th grade teacher from Wylie ISD, works on data during a SOFIA flight.

MJ Tykoski, an 8th grade teacher from Wylie ISD, works on data during a SOFIA flight.

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