June 4, 2003
Schubert down to earth about Space Camp
West Junior High seventh-grader to spend week at NASA Space Camp in Alabama
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Although Marian Schubert will spend a week at NASA Space Camp this summer, her career ambitions are more down to earth.
The seventh-grade student at Traverse City West Junior High dreams of being a veterinarian one day. She has even mapped out her future at Michigan State University's School of Veterinary Medicine. But along the way, this science enthusiast will not duck any chances to delve into a favorite subject - one of many, that is, for this enthusiastic student.
"I've always wanted to learn about space, ever since I watched the movie 'Apollo 13,' that's my favorite movie," said Schubert, who will head to camp in Huntsville, Ala., in August. "You go through some of the training things that the Mercury, Apollo and Shuttle astronauts did. I've always been interested in space."
Schubert will head to United States Space Camp thanks to a scholarship from the Zonta Club. Every year, the organization sends one girl there as part of an ongoing effort to promote science and math to girls.
Sue Carscadden of the Zonta Club said that the decision on who to send was difficult this year.
"We got a few applications that were really good and so impressive," said Carscadden, a member of the club's Status of Women committee, which reviewed the applications. "These girls just excel in their classes and they are so involved in so many things it just amazes me."
The committee picked Schubert's application for a number of reasons.
"Marian did have a 4.0 average, which we were very impressed with, and she had an interest in science and the mission of the program," Carscadden noted. "She also received a very nice recommendation from counselor."
While space and science continue to be avid interests, this year geography rocketed to the head of the list of Schubert's favorite subject.
"I just like learning about the world and I enjoy making maps," said Schubert of geography, whose language arts teacher recommended that she complete the Space Camp scholarship application.
Schubert said that attendees at the camp can choose to specialize in one of three tracks: robotics, rocketry or space. She is interested in the space track, where along with other students she will complete a two-hour simulated space shuttle mission to the space station.
During this mission, participants will be divided into three groups, each key to its success: astronauts, space station or mission control. Those portraying the shuttle crew will either be a pilot or commander, mission specialist or the payload specialist. Students will also conduct some of the same experiments that astronauts on the space station would. They will also learn astronomy and physics as well as work with some of the same computer technology NASA uses today.
"We can also design our own space station, walk in a 1/6th gravity chair and learn how to live in the shuttle, - sleep, eat and go to the bathroom," Schubert said. "We will also build a model rocket and launch it and use the jet backpack."
Schubert is also really looking forward to experiencing the power of take off and the weightlessness of space, both of which can be felt thanks to a simulator.
"I want to feel the Gs of liftoff and weightlessness," said Schubert, who also plays soccer, studies Scottish dancing and helps care for her family's two horses and other pets.