Cody Deluisio and Allan Goldstrom, Allegheny Hyde Park Elementary Students, Land at Space Camp

When the Space Shuttle Atlantis landed on September 22nd, six ecstatic astronauts emerged amidst cheers. Returning from a 12-day successful mission to the international space station, they were glad to be home. Before this mission even took place, however, two area boys flew to Huntsville, Alabama on their own NASA adventure. In August, Allan Goldstrom and Cody Deluisio blasted off on their once in a lifetime opportunity, a trip to Space Camp.

Allan, son of Jeff and Korinda Goldstrom, and Cody Deluisio, son of Bill and Jennifer Deluisio, are sixth graders at Allegheny Hyde Park Elementary School. Cody first read about Space Camp in his science book and checked online for information. After selling his parents on the idea, he coaxed his friend Allan to register and go with him, and soon they were headed to Alabama. Mrs. Deluisio took some time off work to fly with them and attend orientation. Then they were on their own for a week of excitement.

Each day included a full line up of activities such as practicing for mock space missions, learning about previous space missions, and honing skills on various simulators. Cody describes his favorite simulator, the G – Force, as a “spin thing with the three rings. It spun you upside and you could feel the affects of 1/6 of the gravity.”

Allan enjoyed the WMU chair, a simulator that shows kids what it’s like to go out in space to fix the shuttle. “It moved like a hovercraft all around,” explains Allan.

Deluisio and Goldstrom in front of shuttle

Throughout the week the boys also attended learning sessions called, “Beam Me Up” with various science experiments. Making rocket fuel was the highlight of these activities for Cody. He explains, “They took a big bowl of water, added a powder sodium sultrate and heated it in beakers. This made pure oxygen and pure hydrogen. When the teacher put a toothpick near it, the toothpick made a big flame.” Allan, on the other hand, had a blast climbing twelve rock walls that were fifteen feet high, each level becoming gradually more difficult.

The most exciting part of the week for both boys was participating in mock space shuttle missions. The missions were held at one of three places, mission control, the space station, or the shuttle. Cody and Allan were assigned positions on a team of 16 children and each team competed against four others for a teamwork award. Allan served as Mission Control and Cody was dubbed Station Commander. During the mission, Allan saw a fire light turn on and alerted his team. To his dismay, they didn’t believe him, and soon giant lights were flashing, “FIRE!” He yelled to them, “Start thinking or we’re gonna die!” The team worked feverishly pushing various buttons. Finally they shut off the oxygen, extinguishing the fire, and won the teamwork award. Their team had done the best job of overcoming the obstacle by working together.

Cody and Allan sponged in a great deal of science in a short action packed week. Recalling one new thing he absorbed, Cody states, “I liked learning how they plan to get to Mars in a couple of years.” Allan adds, “It was cool to learn that they’re going to start using an aircraft called the Safer instead of the shuttle.” Both boys give the trip a five star rating and recommend it to everyone. Cody says, “I had fun constantly.”

Who knows maybe they’ll be astronauts building a new international space station someday. To see the video interview, go to: