Through an innovative partnership between Bast Services, Inc., Worldview Education Division, and Space Explorers^TM, Inc.; the Chicago Aerospace Initiative (CAI) is proud to offer Space Explorers program access to the Chicago, North Chicago, and Waukegan school districts.

Space Explorers is a unique, internet-based curriculum designed to tap students’ natural curiosity and enthusiasm for space and technology. Developed using actual NASA mission data, Space Explorers provides hands-on learning activities that enable students to improve understanding and proficiency in reading, math and science.

Space Explorers programs include missions to the Moon, Mars and the asteroid Eros. They also include Orbital Laboratory®, where students replicate plant growth experiments done by NASA on the International Space Station, and the K-3 Space® program, which encourages young students to learn about space exploration.

Space Explorers provides teachers with all the resources necessary to bring space education into the classroom by providing prepared curricula, including a simulated launch of a space vehicle. During the simulation, the students must interact to gather information as a team in order to complete the mission simulation. The lessons and programs are at appropriate reading levels (kindergarden through 12th grade) and allow students to be exposed to science vocabulary and experiments based on age and grade.

By utilizing Space Explorers programming, the Chicago Aerospace Initiative seeks to prepare students for jobs in the 21st century that will require technical skill sets in math, science and engineering. By integrating technology into the classroom, CAI enables students to develop technical skills that will be highly valuable in tomorrow’s job market.