NASA EXPERT SPARKS INTEREST OF THE ASTRONAUTS OF TOMORROW

Astronauts for NASA's planned trip to Mars are ~~fourth-, fifth- or sixth-grade students today.

"And we haven't decided who it will be yet," said L.B. Marshall Jr., an aerospace education specialist from NASA's George C. Marshall Space Flight Center at Huntsville, Ala. "Actually, we don't decide. You do."

Marshall visited students at Nell Holcomb school Tuesday. Today he will visit Chaffee; Scott City on Thursday; North Elementary in Jackson on Friday. On Saturday, he will conduct a teacher's workshop at Mineral Area College in Flat River.

Marshall presents aerospace science lecture demonstrations in Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Louisiana, Tennessee and Missouri.

"We feel it's our opportunity or responsibility to share with schools and communities the goals or purposes of NASA, its research and how it affects people," Marshall said.

"In a state as rich as Missouri, it's a lot of fun to talk about the space program," he said. "So many people have had a hand in the program."

Missouri has produced six of NASA's 91 astronauts. A special type of brick, made in central Missouri, is used to line the shuttle launch pad. One of four design engineers for the shuttle orbiter is originally from Missouri. McDonald-Douglas Corp. of St. Louis has been active in the space program. Brown Shoe Co. of St. Louis created the space boot worn by Neil Armstrong.

The Missouri ties will do doubt continue, Marshall explained.

Marshall discussed the dehydrated food astronauts eat the 21-layer space suit they wear and the spacecraft they fly.

Space flight has helped create many products used commercially today.

For example, mylar, used in balloons, was created for use in space suits. Kevlar, used for bullet-proof vests, was also created for space suits.

"Hopefully we set the teachers up with a jillion things to do after we're gone," Marshall said.

During the afternoon, Marshall met with students in small groups to answer questions.

"Students always ask `How much does it cost?' `How do you go to the bathroom in space?' and ~`What if you run out of air in space?'

While he discusses the scientific advancements related to space exploration, Marshall also discusses goal setting and self esteem lessons with students."

"I share truths and near-truths of people from the state so kids can understand if there are any barriers to them doing something, those barriers are really mental barriers," he said.

Marshall told the students to pursue whatever dream they might have, even space flight. "We don't go out beating the bushes looking for astronauts," he said. "They come to us. They have the interest and the drive, get the training and come to us to be in the space program.

"If that's something you think you might be interested in, do it."