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Students Learn About Burt Rutan at EAA Space Week

A student cranks up his propeller-driven foam car at EAA's Space Week.

Students conduct the egg drop exercise.

Kids fill the museum's Space Gallery area.

Students prepare to launch their rubber-powered Aero Gliders.

A group of students watch the "feathering" demonstration at EAA's SpaceShipOne exhibit.

December 6, 2007 — By the end of this week (December 2-7) more than 1,700 Wisconsin students grades 3-5 and 6-8 will have attended EAA's annual "Space Week" at the EAA AirVenture Museum. By participating in hands-on activities and demonstrations, students are studying the developmental stages Burt Rutan went through when he designed his revolutionary SpaceShipOne.

Those activities included making "fizzing rockets" using Alka Seltzer, water, film canisters, and paper cutouts for the wings and tail; "Houston, We Have An Omelette" had students design and build a re-entry vehicle capable of protecting an egg from a giant drop; "Aero Gliding Into the Future" gave older students the chance to create a propeller-driven foam car.

"Students come from all over Wisconsin come to participate in EAA's Space Week," commented Crystal Schroeder, EAA Museum Educator and one of the event coordinators. "We hope the activities help inspire children to be creative and innovative in the same way Burt Rutan was with SpaceShipOne."

Retired engineer Jay Beck, a volunteer at Space Week for the past three years, says he enjoys teaching children the basics of flight. "All the activities at Space Camp are based around the four principles of flight: lift, weight (gravity), thrust and drag," Beck said. "It's exciting to see the students really get into the activities and use their imagination."

EAA thanks the staff, museum docents, and local volunteers who participated this year. A special video of Space Week activities will be played at the 5th annual EAA Wright Brothers Memorial Banquet on Friday, December 14.