SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS — One of the nation’s innovative STEM/STEAM programs based on a hands-on space science curriculum will further its reach by welcoming a new cohort of 35 students from across San Antonio beginning next fall.
The Lunar Caves Analog Test Sites (LCATS) program is a cornerstone of learning experiences provided by the San Antonio-based Educational nonprofit WEX Foundation. The three-year curriculum is offered free of charge to students and their schools; a $110,000 gift from the Kelly Heritage Foundation (KHF) will cover the majority of costs for the upcoming 2023-24 school year.
Established six years ago, LCATS allows middle and high school students to work alongside aerospace and other industry professionals to tackle real-world space exploration challenges and offer solutions through an array of investigations, experiments and design projects. Concepts addressed by the effort include the development of satellite and other large infrastructure in Earth’s orbit and on the surface or within caves on the Moon (hence, the Lunar Caves moniker). To date, over 100 students have participated in LCATS, and many of its graduates have undertaken further studies in space science and related technologies.