Southside Middle School Student Selected for Prestigious Space Camp
Southside Middle School is proud to celebrate one of its own, Luke Rhinehart, who was selected to attend the U.S. Space and Rocket Center’s Space Camp for Leading Students in Alabama this summer. Luke was chosen from a competitive pool of applicants across the state to participate in this prestigious program for students ages 12 to 14.
Held in Huntsville, Alabama, the camp immerses students in the exciting world of space exploration through hands-on STEM activities, space mission simulations, and cutting-edge technology. For Luke, the experience was nothing short of unforgettable.
“My favorite part of Space Camp was the MAT—Multi-Axis Trainer,” Luke shared enthusiastically. “It spins you in all directions and simulates situations like your rocket losing a fin and spinning out. It was very cool!”
Luke not only experienced thrilling simulators but also took on major leadership roles during two simulated missions. “I was the Flight Director in the modern mission—basically the boss of everyone,” he said. “In the shuttle mission, I was the Commander, which meant I was the head pilot in charge of everyone on the shuttle.”
Despite being one of the youngest participants at just 12 years old, Luke was selected for multiple leadership and command roles—an impressive achievement in a camp designed for students up to age 14. His performance as both a leader and team player stood out among his peers and represented SMS with greatness!
His team also engaged in hands-on science experiments, including building and launching their own rockets. “We couldn’t think of a name, so we called our rocket NAME,” Luke laughed. “It came in 2nd place the first time, and 3rd the second time—even though the motor mount was messed up and it almost exploded!”
When asked how the experience shaped his future goals, Luke said Space Camp inspired him even more to pursue a career as an engineer for a space company. He described the weeklong adventure in just three words: fun, educational, and interesting.
Southside Middle School congratulates Luke on this incredible accomplishment and applauds his curiosity, leadership, and passion for science and engineering. We know this is just the beginning of his journey to the stars!
