Riverhead Middle School students got a front seat to the launch of a weather satellite during a trip to the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Students got to witness the launch of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites-U, also known as the GOES-U satellite, in addition to touring an iconic facility synonymous with scientific progress, students were front and center, according to a Riverhead school district press release.
GOES-U is operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and provides crucial weather, climate, and solar data. Students learned about the GOES-U satellite at workshops and then attended the launch of the satellite on the Falcon Heavy rocket, according to the school district. The students were also featured in NASA’s livestream of the momentous event.
“The Riverhead Central School District is proud to provide our students with the opportunity to attend a revolutionary moment for meteorology,” Interim Superintendent Cheryl Pedisich said. “Hands-on experiences, such as this trip to the Kennedy Space Center, enhance our students’ interests and engagement in the sciences, deepening the effect of all they are learning.
Students also took a tour of the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), where large pre-manufactured space vehicle components are assembled at the Kennedy Space Center. The VAB is the eighth-largest building in the world and the largest single-story building by volume in the world, according to an RCSD press release. Students also observed a crawler, which brings rockets to launch pads.
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