ELKO - Astronaut Gregory Chamitoff will visit Spring Creek Elementary School next month to talk about NASA training and what it takes to become an astronaut.
Because the school is located in a small Nevada community south of Elko, teacher Sherry Erwin initially had trouble convincing National Aeronautics and Space Administration that an astronaut should visit the school.
Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev., stepped in to help out and was able to interest Chamitoff in visiting.
"Clearly, this is an ingenious way to stimulate the imaginations of young people," said Bryan.
Chamitoff will speak to students March 17 about his training and space exploration. He will also present the Elko school district science fair awards that evening.
Chamitoff has worked on many space projects for NASA, including the space shuttle, the National Aerospace plane and the Hubble Telescope. He holds a degree in electrical engineering, a master's in aeronautical engineering and a doctorate in aeronautics and astronautics from MIT.
