NOLS Grads Blast Off After Delays

After their flight was delayed last week, NOLS Professional Training graduates Wendy Lawrence, Charlie Camarda, and Jim Kelly left the earth’s atmosphere this morning at 10:39 a.m. as part of a crew of seven on the space shuttle Discovery. Camarda and Kelly both took courses in Utah’s canyonland, while Lawrence took a kayaking course in the Pacific Northwest.

Around 70% of NASA’s current astronauts have first tested their interpersonal, risk management and leadership skills on the ground with a NOLS course before they leave on their missions.

The mission, originally scheduled for July 13th, was delayed due to damage to the shuttle’s hydrogen-fuel gauges. The astronauts will be resupplying and continuing construction on the International Space Station.

To read more about the NOLS-NASA relationship, read this recent article from the Casper Star-Tribune.

Amy Rathke
NOLS Publications Intern