Charges Dropped and Free Trip to Space Camp for Kayla Wilmot
16-year-old Kiera Wilmot was recently arrested and charged as an adult with two charges for a science experiment that went a tiny bit awry (see Zero Tolerance for Science, or Common Sense). Thanks to the public outcry, all charges have been dropped. However, it gets even better: former NASA engineer Homer Hickam is sending Kiera and her twin sister Kayla to space camp, according to Good Education.
Hickam, who had served as SpaceLab’s lead astronaut and who had worked at the International Space Station, raised funds for scholarships to the U.S. Advanced Space Academy for the two scientifically inclined girls. While other scientists had spoken out on Kiera’s behalf, Hickam felt particularly moved, having had a similar experience in high school. He had been accused of starting a forest fire and was arrested, but ultimately released after
