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Teacher to take space flight in 2 to 4 years

Chantelle Rose, a science instructor at Graham High School, is one of seven teachers to take part in a program that will allow her to travel to space within two to four years. Rose recently travelled to the Mojave Desert in California to begin training for the flight.

Chantelle Rose trained for her space flight in the Mojave Desert in California.

Photos: Teacher trains for space flight

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Decked out in a dark blue flight suit Chantelle Rose, a science instructor at Graham High School, recently returned from the Mojave Desert in California where she underwent training for a space flight.

Graham High’s Rose 1 of 7 picked for program

By Matt Sanctis, Staff Writer Updated 7:05 AM Thursday, July 23, 2009

ST. PARIS — In two years, when Chantelle Rose talks about the density of liquids in zero gravity to her students, she’ll likely be talking from firsthand experience.

Rose, a science instructor at Graham High School, is one of just seven teachers nationwide who will participate in the nonprofit Teachers in Space program. In two to four years, she will likely take a half-hour flight into space with about six minutes of weightlessness.

For Rose, it was something she’s dreamed about since elementary school.

“I’ve always loved space. Always,” she said. “In the fourth grade I wanted to be an astronaut.”

The Teachers in Space program is part of the Space Frontier Foundation and the United States Rocket Academy. Private companies will offer brief flights into space, and Rose will be one of the first to participate.

Decked out in a dark blue flight suit covered in patches from companies who are participating in the program, she recently returned from the Mojave Desert in California where she underwent training.

Rose explained she had previously tried to enroll in a different program with NASA, but failed a physical.

This time, she said, everything came together fairly quickly. She applied online for the program in December, and after a couple of interviews, she found out she was selected to participate in May. However, she was sworn to secrecy until this week.

“It came in the form of an e-mail and the last line was, ‘Don’t tell anyone,’” she said of the notification.

While she knows there is some risk involved, Rose said the vehicles she will fly in will be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration, and those involved with the program have plenty of experience.

“These companies are not going to do anything that is unsafe,” she said.

Eventually, Rose said she will share the experience with students in the classroom.

But for now, she’s just waiting until her flight arrives and is enjoying the experience.

“I was extremely excited,” she said about learning she’d take part in the program. “I had tears of joy.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0355 or msanctis@coxohio.com.

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