Pascal Osei Wins Space Camp Scholarship

Pascal Osei, a 10th-grader at Thomas Edison EnergySmart Charter School in the Somerset section of Franklin, gave a presentation to his class about his experience over the summer at Advanced Space Academy at Space Camp USA in Huntsville, Alabama.

As a ninth-grader, Osei was selected to receive The Mars Generation Space Camp scholarship to attend Advanced Space Academy, according to a school news release.

Advanced Space Academy® explores college- and career preparation through an immersive experience in science, technology, engineering and math. Trainees undergo a variety of astronaut training exercises, engineering challenges, and team building activities, all culminating in an extended-duration simulated space mission. As a trainee, Osei trained like an astronaut on the 1/6th Gravity Chair and the Multi-Axis Trainer; designed, built and launched a team rocket, and safely recovered its payload; learned team building skills on the high elements at the Area 51 Challenge Course; experienced neutral buoyancy while SCUBA diving in the Underwater Astronaut Trainer; tested his skills in the Engineering Challenges by constructing a heat shield and building a Rover; flew jet aircraft simulators; discovered the role the International Space Station plays in our global community; and prepared for every contingency as he went to Mars on an extended-duration mission simulation.

Through this scholarship, Osei received camp tuition, room and board, airfare, a flight suit, team patch, team photo and $25 spending money. The value of this scholarship was approximately $3,000. In addition, he earned one credit hour of freshman-level general science from the University of Alabama in Huntsville.