THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, January 14, 1997 TAG: 9701140218
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY MASON PETERS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: 52 lines
Space travel was the topic, and the student body of Albemarle Elementary had a chance Monday to discuss all the details with someone who's been there.
Navy Cmdr. Wendy Lawrence, a 1981 Naval Academy graduate, was flight engineer and pilot on a record-setting 16-day shuttle mission last March.
Her contagious enthusiasm for space flight brought her to Elizabeth City on a recruiting mission for future test pilots and flight engineers, and they had dozens of questions.
``Any one of you can fly in space, any one of you can do it if you try hard enough,'' the 37-year-old astronaut said as she worked her way through the raised hands of curious students.
``Study hard now; learn the science and math you'll need.''
With the next question, Lawrence flat-out owned her listeners.
``When you're weightless, how do you go to the bathroom?'' asked a student.
A small, square-jawed grin slid across the astronaut's face.
``No problem. But once in a while you get a blast of very, very cold air,'' she said.
Lawrence's visit to Albemarle Academy was arranged by the school chapter of the Young Astronaut Council that was formed by the White House in 1984 to focus early interest in the U.S. space program.
It was clear from the start of Lawrence's visit that the students were ready for lift-off even if an orbiting bathroom can be a chilling experience.
Finally, Headmaster Jeb Stuart had to tell his enraptured students that the time was up.
Lawrence, trim in blue NASA coveralls adorned with astronaut badges, stood quietly as small hands burst into spontaneous applause and a long goodbye for their impressive visitor.
Lawrence, daughter of a retired Navy vice admiral, graduated from Fort Hunt High School in Alexandria, Va., in 1977. She received a bachelor of science degree in ocean engineering from the Naval Academy and advanced degrees from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute.
She is in training for a four-month tour of duty later this year aboard the Russian Space Station Mir. She will transfer to Mir from the space shuttle Atlantis, due to be launched in September. ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]
``Any one of you can fly in space.''
DREW C. WILSON
The Virginian-Pilot
Cmdr. Wendy Lawrence, former shuttle pilot and flight engineer, made
an early recruiting trip to Albemarle Academy in Elizabeth City on
Monday.