Reprinted with permission from School-Age Notes, the most trusted publisher and provider of quality, innovative resources designed to elevate the skills of adults who create learning opportunities for children and youth.

Space and space travel is a fascinating endeavor. It would take about 440 days to reach Mars in a manned spacecraft, and that' s what a collaboration of international space programs may try to do by 2015. Studying space travel can be an engaging way to generate youth interest in science and math. During the past 25 years, there has been a significant increase in the need for a more highly trained workforce to meet the needs of changing technology. To stay competitive in the global economy, the United States must nurture a more technically and scientifically capable youth population. The U.S. National Commission on Math and Science suggests that the future well-being of our nation and people depends not just on how well we educate our children generally, but on how well we educate them in mathematics and science specifically (Bevan & Semper, 2006; Catsambis, 1994; Froschi et al., 2003; United States Department of Education, 2000).