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Kansas City Elementary Schoolers Send Experiments Into Near Space

By Steve Kraske,
Lisa Rodriguez
Published April 7, 2015 at 3:40 PM CDT
Cristopher Crance
/
Burns &McDonnell

When you were a kid, did you ever dream of becoming an astronaut? Some area students are taking the first steps. Grade-schoolers at Resurrection Catholic School in Kansas City, Kan. and Prairie Fire Upper Elementary in Independence are creating experiments to send into near space in a big weather balloon.

Guests:

  • Alan Washburn is with the Institute of Electronics and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), which issued the near space balloon challenge to area schools.
  • Allie Dorsey leads the STEM club at Resurrection Catholic School in Kansas City, Kan. 
  • Ali Ruiz is in the 5th grade and Steven Barrett is in the 6th grade at Resurrection Catholic School. 

Credit Cristopher Crance / Burns &McDonnell
/
Burns &McDonnell
This view was taken from the camera inside the weather balloon that carried the experiments up into space.

Are you interested in reading more about near space ballooning? Click here and here for more coverage from KCUR's Central Standard. 

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Up To Date spacescienceeducationSTEM
Steve Kraske
When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.
See stories by Steve Kraske
Lisa Rodriguez
Kansas City needs journalists who show up not just on people’s worst days, but on their best ones — and the boring ones in between. I build relationships across the metro, so our newsroom can bring you critical information when times are tough, and seek out moments of joy to celebrate. Email me at lisa@kcur.org.
See stories by Lisa Rodriguez