When people think of space exploration, their minds may go to shuttle liftoff, astronauts on the space station, and the possibility of extraterrestrial life. Less likely is consideration of the technology that makes space exploration possible. But that’s exactly the focus of the Frontiers of Flight Museum (FFM) in Dallas.

Museumgoers can walk through the history of aviation while exploring the future of space travel.

“We do that through exhibits and collections we’ve grown over the years as well as our programming and STEM curriculum,” says Rosalie Wade, Director of Education. 

Wade says the staff thinks of itself as both science and history communicators. They host programs aimed at not just educating students but inspiring them by sharing the latest developments in the space program that may not make the news.

“So a lot of people don’t even realize that we have Rovers hanging out on Mars right now,” she said. “The most recent one is Perseverance, which actually, I have the Lego model right behind me.” 

Perseverance is about the size of a sedan and carries seven primary payload instruments (tools for data collection and experiments), 19 cameras, and two microphones. Its job? To determine whether the Red Planet could support future life—and whether it did so in the past.

[Photo: Frontiers of Flight Museum]

Tangible STEM lessons 

Texas celebrates girls in STEM on March 1, while International Women’s Day falls on March 8, but FFM showcases this gee-whiz cool stuff year-round and while making it ‘actionable’ for students.  

“From March tenth to March fourteenth, we have our spring break camp, and this year’s focus is robotics,” said Wade. 

The museum demonstrates that getting to space starts on Earth, at the intersection of science, technology, engineering, and math. To help students—from first to 10th grade—see how lessons translate to real life, FFM ties the curriculum to current events—like what Perseverance is up to.

Campers also have a chance to visit the SPOC Planetarium and visit the galleries. It’s all part of FFM’s mission to demystify words and concepts that can serve as a barrier to understanding. 

“During that week—on March 12, we’ll also have a program on NASA aeronautics, which is working on quiet supersonic technology,” said Wade.

NASA calls it the Quesst mission. The technology could cut flight times in half without creating sonic booms, a breakthrough that could revolutionize the travel industry and the future of work. FFM has assembled a panel of three NASA experts to engage students with insights and information.

[Photo: Frontiers of Flight Museum]

Beyond the curriculum 

In addition to lesson plans and guest speakers, FFM connects students with people who were once in their shoes—still developing a skill set and not yet aware of all the ways they could turn their interests into a career.

“We [host] STEM Career Days with the older grades where they have career speakers, and we tried to feature as many women as possible. We’ve also grown our youth leadership program,” said Wade. “It’s called Aerospace STEM Leaders of the Future,” 

A big topic of discussion there is Artemis—a NASA program that aims to return humanity to the moon. Its name is a clue for those familiar with Greek mythology: Artemis, the twin sister of Apollo. One of the mission’s goals is to bring the first woman and the first person of color to the lunar surface.

“We also have volunteer opportunities—like at our recent sensory-friendly day, where about 20 [students] came to help,” said Wade. “And then there are paid internship opportunities as well.” 

This summer, FFM is launching mentorships, pairing older students with mentors who can help guide their interests and abilities.

“Think about your childhood. How many women did you see in these kind of STEM careers?” asked Wade. “I probably could not have told you what an engineer did, when I was little. And I probably would have been really good at it, if I had been exposed to it.” 

Wade says the mentorship program will educate students about all kinds of STEM careers, not just those related to space. 

“I’m actually working with my sister, who’s a nurse practitioner, to pair her with another young lady that’s graduating with her BioMed degree from A&M to discuss her opportunities, whether she wants to become a physician’s assistant or do something else.” 

[Photo: Frontiers of Flight Museum]

Moving the needle 

Local efforts like those at FFM, as well as national organizations like Girls Who Code and IF/THEN (sponsored by Lyda Hill Philanthropies) can provide an entry point for girls and young women who might not otherwise see STEM as a viable pathway. 

And data show that the percentage of women working in STEM-related careers has grown: in 1970, women made up 38% of all U.S. workers and 8% of STEM workers. By 2019, women made up 48% of all workers and had increased their presence in STEM fields to 27%, according to a report from the U.S. Census. 

But the same report showed that men still dominate STEM fields, holding 73% of total STEM jobs. For Wade and her team, while achieving gender parity is important, their true measure of success is their impact on Dallas youth.

“Every young person deserves a chance at a career in STEM,” said Wade. “Sometimes, all it takes is seeing someone who looks like them achieving success. At the Museum, we’ve witnessed this firsthand—bright-eyed, curious, and capable children discovering their potential through our programs. In our most recent STEM Camp, 96% of students had an increased interest in STEM, and 100% reported they enjoyed the camp. I am confident we are inspiring our next generation to dream further.” 

Voices contributor Nicole Ward is a data journalist for the Dallas Regional Chamber.

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