Dustin Wysong- Ballard Memorial Beacon Staffwriter
Wednesday, September 17, 2008 1:23 pm

Ballard Memorial HS students need help to take a trip of a lifetime.

EDITOR'S NOTE: These students need money to make this trip. If you can donate to the trip, send donations in care of: Anita Bugg, Ballard Weekly, P. O. Box 725, LaCenter, KY 42056. Designate your checks "NASA Trip". 

   On Nov. 10, the BMHS Multimedia staff will be going to the NASA STS-126 shuttle launch at Kennedy Space Center near Cocoa Beach, Florida. Those attending are Mrs. Korrie Purcell, multimedia instructor, Mr. Donald Shively, principal of Ballard Memorial, Josh Underwood, Warren Newberry, Josh Yancy and Cory King of the staff, all seniors. 

   The Multimedia staff heard from Dr. Larry Allen, father of Mr. Casey Allen, principal of Ballard Middle, about this unique opportunity. Mr. Shively wrote several letters to the NASA officials for ‘press credentials’, or ability to be where the news crews are. Mrs. Purcell will be with two of the students down at the launch site, in the media section, while Mr. Shively will have the other two students in mission control.

   For those of you who don’t know, the STS-126 launch is the 21 flight of the space shuttle Endeavour and the 125 launch of the Space Shuttle Program. The Endeavour was built in 1991 and had its first and very successful flight in 1992.

   According to the NASA official website, the crew consists of veteran space flier Navy Capt. Christopher J. Ferguson, who will command Endeavour and Air Force Lt. Col. Eric A. Boe, who will serve as the pilot. The mission specialists are Navy Capt. Stephen G. Bowen, Army Lt. Col. Robert S. Kimbrough, Navy Capt. Heidemarie M. Stefanyshyn-Piper and NASA astronauts Donald R. Pettit and Sandra H. Magnus.

   Emotions have been running high about getting to see the space shuttle take off. The added bonus - it is a night time launch. Media crews will gather at this one place just to see this spectacular event. 

   I spoke with Mrs. Purcell about this once in a lifetime experience. “I am very excited,” she said, “Since I was a little child, I have always wanted to be an astronaut.” She is also taking her children with her to the launch.

   I also spoke with the students who are going. They all agreed on one thing… it is going to be awesome.