Leigh High physics teacher shoots for the stars, again
(WorldNews Environment)

Setting foot aboard any NASA vehicle is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most people, but for Leigh High School physics teacher Marita Beard, it’s yet another opportunity to reach for the stars. Beard is one of 39 high school science teachers in California recently selected to take an eye-opening cosmic ride later this year on NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, better known as SOFIA. The modified Boeing 747SP airplane has a large door that can be opened so a 2.5-meter telescope will fit through, giving researchers a clearer view of the galaxy. According to NASA’s website, SOFIA flies between 39,000 to 45,000...