ACC to Step up Space Program

Round Rock Campus— ACC president/CEO Dr. Richard Rhodes broke ground at a ceremony Thursday, to begin construction at the Austin Community College Spaceport Launch Pad. The launch pad, which should be operational in mid 2012, is the first of its kind in the Austin area.

"Once again, ACC is leading the way," claimed President Rhodes. "This spaceport will just be the first of many; the United States will continue to have a manned space program!"

The spaceport, one of many projects ACC has started in response to NASA's decision to retire the space shuttles, is designed to house up to four reusable shuttles that will be used for conducting scientific research in outer space. Current plans only provide funding for one shuttle, although more meetings to raise the space program's budget are scheduled.

"This is a team effort," stressed Ben Ferrell, ACC Vice President in charge of finances. "With space exploration moving into the private sector, we plan on eventually making a profit on this project, and then passing off those gains towards student's tuition rates." Mr. Ferrell was forced to admit that any gains aren't expected for many years. "It's tough to say...certainly, this is a long- term plan."

Many different departments from around ACC are joining together to make Dr. Rhodes vision a reality. Chemistry classes at Pinnacle Campus have recently put all their lab time into generating and testing rocket booster fuel, while Engineering and Physics classes at Rio Grande have gone back to the drawing board to design one of the most efficient rockets in existence. Air Force ROTC has also been involved with the design process.

"I'm really excited to see all this coming together," commented Christopher Saleh, a computer science teacher, and head of the shuttle computer systems design team. "I even saw a few art majors designing insignias for the first shuttle mission. I can't wait!"

Unfortunately, construction of the spaceport will have to be completed before launches of either manned space shuttles or unmanned rockets will take place. The astrophysics department does have tentative plans to launch three geosynchronous satellites into orbit at the end of the spring semester, although those plans are subject to change.

"We'll be ready," promised Dr. Rhodes. "Come springtime, a new dawn in space exploration will begin, right here at ACC. I'll be cold and in the ground before America pays Russia to put astronauts in space."

Editor's note: This column is intended for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered factual in any way.