Chances are most people don't know how many astronauts man the International Space Station. Yet several young students from the Philadelphia Science and Space Club know this answer -- and many more -- about space.
PSSC, a club founded to teach 9 to 15 year-old Philadelphia children about astronomy and other sciences, held its first open house Sunday in the David Rittenhouse Laboratory. The open house allowed other children interested in the sciences to join the innovative club.
Since its beginnings almost six years ago in the living room of a dedicated community resident, PSSC has expanded to an 80-member organization, holding meetings at Penn every Sunday.
Reginald Mosley, PSSC's founder, started the club to help neighborhood children after being inspired by the Million Man March in Washington, D.C.
"[It was] my way of doing my part to make a difference," Mosley said.
According to Mosley, the Club's goals include "taking the kids to the science," with trips to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida and NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. The trips are funded exclusively through raffles and other fundraisers.
In contrast, PSSC also brings the science to the kids by inviting speakers such as former astronauts to share their experiences.
Mosley, however, credits the club's success and expansion to the role the parents play in organizing the events.
"We thrive on parent power," Mosley said.
While all the children seemed to enjoy their Sunday afternoon surrounded by science, they had different reasons for coming.
Nine-year old Kevin Timothy enjoyed the experience because of his desire to go into science as a career.
"When I get older, I would like to be a scientist," Timothy said.
However, while others shied away from seeking science as a career, they still would like to learn about it.
"I wouldn't want to be a scientist, but I would like to study science," said eight-year old Liara Vinson.
Sunday's open house for the community included a broad range of activities. Presentations by radio station Power 99's disk jockey D.C. Todd and the Historic Friendship Baptist Church entertained and excited the crowd.
To demonstrate the students' science knowledge, Mosley conducted a question and answer session on the International Space Station. Science and computer-related prizes were awarded for correct answers.
While Mosley said that the PSSC members learn about science and technology, he stressed that the children pick up "other life skills" along the way, such as the knowledge of how to work in a team and experience in public speaking.
