HAMPTON, Va. A student from Patrick Henry High School spent this week planning a mission to Mars at the Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholars (VASTS) Academy at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va.

Patrick Henry High School rising senior Matthew Perry was one of 43 students who took part in the VASTS Academy July 27 to August 1 hosted by NASA Langley in a partnership with the Virginia Space Grant Consortium.

Prior to the academy, Perry completed a three-month interactive online program that challenged him to help create a plan for sustaining a human presence on Mars.

Perry worked with a team that dealt with a specific challenge of operating an outpost on the red planet.

"I think that [this program] will put me ahead in college with a greater understanding of the different systems, tools, and protocols employed during space travel," said Perry.

Perry and his teammates also built, programmed and tested robots, toured NASA labs and facilities, and interacted with NASA researchers, scientists and astronaut D. Thomas Jones. Perry said that that the program was a good opportunity to learn more about aerospace technologies.

To learn more about the VASTS Program, visit: http://www.vasts.spacegrant.org/; for information about NASA research and exploration, visit: http://www.nasa.gov; (757) 864-4413 matthew.s.coffey@nasa.gov