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Priest River students launch into action at annual rocket event

by LAUREN REICHENBACH
Staff Writer | May 14, 2024 1:00 AM

PRIEST RIVER — For most of us, the fastest we will ever travel is roughly 550 miles per hour in an airplane. However, for former astronaut Thomas Marshburn, he went from 0 to 17,500 miles per hour in just eight-and-a-half minutes when he launched into space for the first time on Expedition 66.

Marshburn, who worked for NASA for 28 years before he retired in 2022, joined Priest River Elementary School students Monday for the students’ annual rocket launch event, led by fifth grade science teacher Chris Naccarato.

When welcoming Marshburn to the stage, Naccarato reminisced on past times when astronauts were driven to their launch site via an astro van. Now, he said they are transported in a white Tesla. While the school was unable to get a Tesla for Marshburn, Naccarato gifted him with a Hot Wheel-sized version of the vehicle to commemorate his time at the elementary school’s launch.

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