Get Away Special (GAS) educational applications of space flight

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has established the Small Self-Contained Payloads (SSCP) Program, commonly known as the Get Away Special (GAS) Program. One of the prime objectives of the GAS program is to foster enthusiasm in the younger generation in the use of space. The author looks at the history of the program from its initiation through the development phase, its interaction with the educational community, the education-industry relationship, and some educational objectives. The author addresses the programmatic and technical relationships that are established between NASA and the GAS customer, and ends with a brief look into the future