Oklahoma agencies to buy small rocket system to train next space scientists

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Two state agencies hope to have Oklahoma's youngsters shooting for the stars with a new rocket program. <br><br>The Oklahoma Aeronautics and Space Commission and the Oklahoma

Sunday, December 24th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Two state agencies hope to have Oklahoma's youngsters shooting for the stars with a new rocket program.

The Oklahoma Aeronautics and Space Commission and the Oklahoma Space Industry Development Authority plan to spend about 100-thousand dollars on the program.

The program is now being used by the Florida Spaceport Authority. It consists of three-foot-long, solid-fuel rockets meant to train aerospace engineers and space walkers.

The rockets can carry four pounds of instruments to take measurements or conduct experiments.

Oklahoma officials say the purchase will probably be done next week.

The agencies plan to develop the program at the former Clinton-Sherman Air Force Base at Burns Flat in southwest Oklahoma.

A target date for the first launch is for next October.