Space in the Community Returns to Waldorf
Former NASA astronaut Mark Polansky will visit Charles County middle schools and speak at a community night during Space in the Community week, November 16-20.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Space
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The Space Foundation and Charles County Public Schools are bringing the Space in the Community program to Waldorf, Maryland, for a week of activities from November 16 to 20. Former NASA astronaut Mark Polansky, a veteran of three spaceflights, will visit middle schools across the county during the week.
Why it matters
The program is a nearly 20-year partnership between the Space Foundation and the school district aimed at building lifelong STEM learners among PreK-12 students. It gives local students direct access to a former astronaut and to hands-on space-themed learning.
Polansky has logged more than 993 hours in space across three missions, including STS-98, STS-116 and STS-127, and more than 5,000 hours in aircraft across more than 30 types. Charles County Public Schools serves 27,904 students across 39 schools, and the outcome of the grades 6-8 sustainability competition has not yet been reported.
The players
Mark Polansky
A former NASA astronaut and U.S. Air Force pilot and test pilot who joined NASA in 1992 and flew three spaceflights, serving as pilot of STS-98 and commander of STS-116 and STS-127.
Space Foundation
A nonprofit organization focused on space education and advocacy that has partnered with Charles County Public Schools for nearly 20 years.
Charles County Public Schools
The public school district serving Charles County, Maryland, which educates 27,904 students in grades prekindergarten through 12.
The details
Students will take part in an Artemis-themed activity in which teams prioritize and pack supplies for a lunar mission, and will explore coding and robotics using Sphero indi robots. Middle schoolers will also work in teams on the National Space Sustainability Competition, developing sustainable orbital living solutions.
Timeline
Nov. 16-20, 2026: Space in the Community week in Waldorf, Maryland
Friday, Nov. 20, 8:15-11 a.m.: High school peer mentoring event at the James E. Richmond Science Center
Friday, Nov. 20, 6-8 p.m.: Community Night with Polansky presentation at the James E. Richmond Science Center
Season Trajectory
The program's Artemis-themed lunar supply activity ties local classrooms to NASA's current push to return humans to the Moon. Its focus on sustainable orbital living echoes the long-term goal of keeping crews in space for extended periods.
Families in Charles County can attend the Friday, November 20 Community Night at the James E. Richmond Science Center from 6 to 8 p.m. to hear Polansky speak. Students in grades 6-8 can take part in the National Space Sustainability Competition during the week.
The takeaway
Hands-on programs that pair students with working space professionals can make distant fields like spaceflight feel reachable for young learners. Families interested in STEM can use events like this one to start conversations about careers in science and engineering.
What happens next
Space in the Community week runs November 16-20, with the Community Night presentation on Friday, November 20, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the James E. Richmond Science Center.
Further reading
Explore more space news and science coverage to see how local outreach fits into broader efforts in orbital research.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Bay Net.
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