OVER THE MOON

by Charlotte Kovalchuk

Liberty Hill Student’s NASA Journey Takes Off

While many teens have spent their summer enjoying beach trips or bingeing Netflix, Liberty Hill High School junior Parker Pevehouse has been exploring the cosmos—virtually, at least. He’s spent the last few months immersed in NASA’s High School Aerospace Scholars (HAS) program, an initiative aimed at inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers through real-world STEM experiences. “As a high school student, to be able to be a part of this program and getting to learn more in depth about these space programs than NASA might release to the public, it’s been a really cool, fun experience. This is stuff people out of college might be doing as part of NASA, and I’m only learning this as a high school student.”

His journey began at the start of his junior year, when LHHS launched its first-ever rocketry club. It’s where he met a friend who had previously participated in NASA’s HAS program and encouraged him to apply. For Parker, who had always been curious about space and developed an early interest in engineering by taking apart toys to understand how they worked, the program felt like the perfect fit. After applying, he received news that he had been nominated by his state legislator and selected as one of more than 750 students across Texas to participate in the program. “It was an awesome experience to get that email. It’s an honor to be selected.”

Launchpad For Learning

The first phase of HAS involved a 20-week online course during the school year. Students completed STEM-focused modules, wrote essays, collaborated with peers across the state, and explored how NASA-developed technology impacts everyday life. “There was a lot of learning about time management. I had to learn how to manage my school and NASA coursework balance.” One of his favorite assignments involved researching how tools developed for space missions—like cordless power drills—were later adapted for home use. In addition to individual work, Parker also engaged in statewide team discussions, learned from NASA scientists during webinars, and collaborated with students on complex problem-solving exercises.

Students who successfully completed the course were invited to join the Moonshot summer experience—a weeklong virtual mission simulation modeled after NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to establish a long-term human presence on the Moon. Parker was placed on Team Alpha Two, one of several groups tasked with designing and presenting a proposal for a lunar expedition. His team’s mission: develop a cargo lunar lander capable of transporting supplies and equipment to a future moon base. “We had to explain everything—how the lander would function, what systems it would use, how we’d test lunar soil content,” Parker says. “We would have Zoom meetings from 8am to 5pm every day, collaborating with students from Houston ISD, Frisco ISD, and McKinney ISD—it was really fun.”

Their final product was a video presented to a panel of NASA engineers, who selected the top three teams from the state, including Parker’s, for the next level of the program: an in-person visit to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston at the end of July.

Eyes On The Next Mission

For Parker, the upcoming in-person experience at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston is the next giant leap in his journey. He’ll spend a week touring facilities, meeting NASA experts face-to-face, and exploring the kinds of hands-on problem-solving that bring space missions to life. “We might get to go inside Building 9, where they have a full mock-up of the International Space Station,” he says. “They are doing testing on space suits because of the outdated technology since Apollo—like how to reduce weight without compromising safety. I’m looking forward to seeing how they work through problems.”

Equally exciting is the chance to finally meet the teammates he’s collaborated with virtually throughout the Moonshot program, as well as to represent Liberty Hill. “It’s just so cool to connect with people from all over Texas who are passionate about space.” And, as a student participating in a program directly tied to NASA’s Artemis mission, Parker understands the bigger picture. “We’re the generation that’s going to operate these kinds of missions in the future. NASA is making sure students like me get to be part of that—to support future missions to Mars and beyond.”

CHARTING HIS COURSE— AND LIGHTING THE WAY FOR OTHERS

Looking ahead, Parker hopes to continue on a path in the space industry, possibly working through NASA’s Commercial Crew Program with partners like SpaceX or Boeing. He’s especially interested in how space exploration can help humanity grow and adapt in the face of rising global challenges. “We’re going to have to think about living on other planets as Earth’s population grows. It’s a really interesting concept to think about.”

Parker also hopes to inspire younger students to pursue their interests in STEM. “When you’re a kid, a lot of us say we want to be astronauts or scientists or the president,” he says. “But as we grow up, some people start thinking they’re not cut out for NASA or that they’re not smart enough. If you keep chasing your dreams, you can get there.”