CONGRESSIONAL SCHOOL BLOG

From Robotics to Rocketry: Dr. Pavon’s Astronaut Training

A Middle School Science Teacher's "Out of this World" Professional Development Experience

Before stepping into her new role as Congressional’s 7th and 8th-grade science teacher this year, Dr. Mariana Pavon decided to trade her classroom for a flight suit.

Seeking a professional development experience that was truly "out of this world," Dr. Pavon headed to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, last summer. For six days and five nights, she wasn’t just a teacher—she was an astronaut-in-training at Space Camp for Educators.

Astronaut Training

Alongside 40 educators from across the globe, Dr. Pavon donned the iconic blue flight suit and jumped headfirst into the physical and technical rigors of spaceflight. To prepare for the week’s "signature mission," the training was intense:

The Multi-Axis Trainer: Strapped into a spinning gimbal ring, Dr. Pavon experienced the dizzying "tumble spin" of atmospheric reentry.
Gravity Defiance: She tested her limits in weightlessness simulations and felt the crushing pressure of high G-forces during a "Moonshot" takeoff.
Mission Control: Taking on roles like Mission Commander and Ground Control, the teachers navigated high-stakes, scripted scenarios using authentic consoles.

Bringing NASA to School

The program wasn't just about the thrill of the spin; it was about bringing that spark of discovery back to Congressional. Led by NASA specialists, Dr. Pavon didn't just learn the curriculum—she lived it.

"We didn't just study rocketry; we built our own from scratch and launched them. We even engineered heat shields and tested their strength against the blast of a blowtorch."

The week was punctuated by wisdom from space legends, including retired astronauts and Homer Hickam, the former NASA engineer whose life inspired the film October Sky.

The Mission Continues

The experience culminated in a formal graduation ceremony where Dr. Pavon and her teammates officially earned their wings. But the journey didn't end in Huntsville. Dr. Pavon remains in touch with her "flight crew" via a dedicated WhatsApp group, where she and her fellow educators have swapped tips and checked in on one another as they rolled out the NASA-inspired lesson plans.

With this amazing experience behind her, Dr. Pavon’s students this year have not just been reading about space, they’ve been working with NASA-approved curriculum taught by someone who has experienced the rigors of astronaut training firsthand - and survived the gimbal ring!