samstreet
Oct 9th, 2003, 09:28 AM
JUAN A. LOZANO, Associated Press Writer
HOUSTON - After a highly publicized failed attempt last year, 'N Sync (news - web sites) singer Lance Bass (news) still hopes to one day fly and work in space.
And if a group of Houston middle school students has any say, Bass will do it in "Lance's Lab" while dining on chicken strips with salsa, wearing stylish pants and T-shirts and listening to and recording music as a way to combat motion sickness.
On Wednesday, Bass visited Ortiz Middle School in southeast Houston as a part of events celebrating World Space Week, which commemorates the Oct. 4, 1957 launch of Sputnik 1, the first human-made satellite, and the Oct. 10, 1967 signing of a treaty that governs exploration and peaceful uses of space.
"Just stick with math and science and dream big," Bass told nearly 40 students after listening to a presentation by a group that proposed a lab design in which the pop singer could research whether listening to music would be a good way of relieving the stress that comes with long duration spaceflight.
The designs for "Lance's Lab" are part of a national competition in conjunction with World Space Week, which is held each year from Oct. 4-10 after a 1999 declaration by the United Nations (news - web sites) General Assembly. Bass, a space enthusiast, was recruited to promote the importance of academics to students when it comes to space travel.
Bass, 24, also told students about the rigorous training he underwent last year while attempting to secure a ride aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft to the international space station (news - web sites).
He would have been the youngest person ever in space, but had to cancel his plans to fly last October after failing to raise the estimated $20 million fare. A year ago, he was in Houston, training at NASA (news - web sites)'s Johnson Space Center.
"The training is very difficult, very physical," Bass said. "There is also a lot of psychological training. Living in space is difficult because it takes place in a very small (area). You can't be claustrophobic. You also have to learn a lot about the science of rockets."
One student asked the singer if he feared being abducted by aliens if he went to space.
"I'm not scared of any aliens," Bass responded as students burst into laughter. "If there are aliens, I think they'll be friendly."
HOUSTON - After a highly publicized failed attempt last year, 'N Sync (news - web sites) singer Lance Bass (news) still hopes to one day fly and work in space.
And if a group of Houston middle school students has any say, Bass will do it in "Lance's Lab" while dining on chicken strips with salsa, wearing stylish pants and T-shirts and listening to and recording music as a way to combat motion sickness.
On Wednesday, Bass visited Ortiz Middle School in southeast Houston as a part of events celebrating World Space Week, which commemorates the Oct. 4, 1957 launch of Sputnik 1, the first human-made satellite, and the Oct. 10, 1967 signing of a treaty that governs exploration and peaceful uses of space.
"Just stick with math and science and dream big," Bass told nearly 40 students after listening to a presentation by a group that proposed a lab design in which the pop singer could research whether listening to music would be a good way of relieving the stress that comes with long duration spaceflight.
The designs for "Lance's Lab" are part of a national competition in conjunction with World Space Week, which is held each year from Oct. 4-10 after a 1999 declaration by the United Nations (news - web sites) General Assembly. Bass, a space enthusiast, was recruited to promote the importance of academics to students when it comes to space travel.
Bass, 24, also told students about the rigorous training he underwent last year while attempting to secure a ride aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft to the international space station (news - web sites).
He would have been the youngest person ever in space, but had to cancel his plans to fly last October after failing to raise the estimated $20 million fare. A year ago, he was in Houston, training at NASA (news - web sites)'s Johnson Space Center.
"The training is very difficult, very physical," Bass said. "There is also a lot of psychological training. Living in space is difficult because it takes place in a very small (area). You can't be claustrophobic. You also have to learn a lot about the science of rockets."
One student asked the singer if he feared being abducted by aliens if he went to space.
"I'm not scared of any aliens," Bass responded as students burst into laughter. "If there are aliens, I think they'll be friendly."