Students at Lebanon County Career and Technology Center (LCCTC), Lebanon, Pa., in Eric Tanger’s precision machining class have been tasked with making parts for NASA and the International Space Station (ISS). The LCCTC applied and was awarded to participate through a partnership with the High School Students United with NASA to Create Hardware (NASA HUNCH) program.

According to LCCTC Administrative Director Glenn Meck, the program involves partnerships between high schools and NASA. So far, the LCCTC is the only school in Pennsylvania that is manufacturing flight hardware for NASA.

“Our class has been tasked with making parts for handrails that will be used to help astronauts stay stationary while on the ISS,” said Meck. “The items are built to drawing specifications and need to show the highest-quality output possible. The students learn about quality assurance best practices and to expect quality from all of the items they create.”

According to the HUNCH program, ISS crew members use a multitude of handrails for restraints in zero-gravity, as well as a point of attachment for hardware or tools. They slide on and off seat tracks inside the ISS and are always in need of replacements. At the completion of the project, a locker signed by all the LCCTC precision machining students will be sent to the ISS for use by the astronauts to remember the partnership between the LCCTC and NASA.

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