1951 Dr. Wernher von Braun and Chesley Bonestell predicted the future of space exploration and technological achievement. A breathtaking painting was commissioned that showed a reusable launch vehicle, a space telescope and a rotating wheel-like space station orbiting the earth. In the background was Central America with wisps of clouds silhouetted against the bright blue of the oceans. Predicting the future is not a precise science and is risky at best, but in this case it was done with amazing accuracy.

Also in 1951 our home was enhanced by another type of technology. My mother had purchased a new wringer washing machine and she presented me with one of the best gifts I have ever received... the box that it came in! I immediately set up my new treasure on the porch that looked out over our back yard. With my biggest black crayon I outlined a control panel on the interior wall of what was to become my space ship. I carefully outlined where my portholes would go and with my ever- present pocket knife I cut them out so I could gaze out upon the world below. With a handful of Momâs homemade peanut butter cookies and a pint size jar of milk for space rations I was ready for lift-off.

I donât recall how many miles I traveled in that box, but I know that it was in the zillionâs. For a young boy who would have his 10th birthday come November that box was a treasure and a magical means to Îslip the surly bonds of earth and touch the face of Godâ. I had some idea of what space travel would be like, for what child of the 1940s and 1950s did not know all about Buck Rogers, Flash Gordon and of course Tom Corbett/Space Cadet. Wow! I knew I was destined for something special... my first name was Gordon and my last was Corbett. I was already amongst the space notables and in my imagination I flew right along with them doing good in the far reaches of space.

Of course my box could easily be adapted to become any of the famous planes of World War II. I was equally proficient at flying the P-51 Mustang or the gull wing Navy Corsair. I never had any accidents as I flew my missions, but there were some close calls as I returned to the base or carrier with my plane badly shot up. These were tense moments as I got the plane and myself safely back down in order to go chow up on some of Momâs good cooking. She knew what us aviators needed.

Childhood does not last forever and I grew into a man. I spent time in the Navy, worked for several years putting myself through college and became a teacher. I married, became the father of two girls and had become a responsible adult. All of these things very predictable and very enriching. Teaching was to become my lifeâs work. I was able to relate to sixth grade students easily as I remembered how rich my own childhood had been and I attempted to enrich their lives as well. It worked well for I remembered the famous quotation by EINSTEIN: "Imagination is more important than Knowledge." I used my imagination to help me teach and I tweaked the imaginations of my students as well.

It was natural for me in 1984 to get excited about the Teacher-In-Space program. President Reagan announced that the United States and NASA was going to send one of itâs finest into space ... a teacher! I was ready to go. The application process was difficult and long, but I persevered. Finally, after many anxious months I was one of the teachers selected to represent the state of Maine. I was one step closer to following in the footsteps of Buck Rogers, Flash Gordon and Tom Corbett.

Ten years have passed since that process began and much history has been written. We all remember January 28, 1986. I shall never forget it as I witnessed live the final seventy-three seconds of the Challenger. It is still very clear in my mind. But what is equally clear is the fact that we go on... that students today need to develop their own imaginations and to express their own dreams for their future. Space can be that for some. The prolific writer of the western frontier, Louie Lâamour, said that we need a new frontier to keep us forward looking and thinking. He and others have said that that new frontier is space.

Whenever I visit schools in my capacity as a space ambassador I see first hand how the subject of space excites the imagination and challenges the spirit. The questions are endless and there is never enough time to get to them all before the day is gone. But when I am gone I know that the seeds of curiosity and wonderment have been sown and I recall the words of Emerson: "We love to wonder and that is the seed of science."

As Christa McAuliffe said "I touch the future, I teach." I retired from a twenty-six year teaching career to develop "Orbit with Corbett" educational services. I continue to teach as I travel throughout the region. This is what the Teacher-in- Space program was to be about... to inspire and fire the imaginations of our young for they will inherit the future.

Gordon is very busy with his science workshops in schools, science museums, colleges, and now with homeschoolers! Energetic and inspiring, he will be presenting special hands-on science workshops for kids and parents at our New England Conference on July 9 - 11 n Boxborough, MA, Gordon will also conduct a workshop to help train parent-educators how to effectively teach science at home. Donât miss it!