BLUE ASH — Every time one of NASA's space shuttles goes up, it takes a little bit of a Blue Ash company with it.

        Inside a sprawling complex of buildings, machines and people, Metalx Manufacturing mills, polishes and creates parts that will be used in the space shuttles' main engines, and in other military aircraft.

        On Friday, some of the people who depend on the company's products dropped in for a visit.

Cmdr. Chris Ferguson gets ready to autograph his picture for Josh Meyer, a fourth-grader at Blue Ash Elementary on Friday. (Michael Snyder photo) | ZOOM |

        Astronauts Navy Cmdr. Christopher Ferguson and Army Lt. Col. Timothy Creamer toured the Metalx plant, gave a presentation to employees and visited with 130 students from nearby schools. Representatives from NASA, Pratt & Whitney, and Boeing Rocketdyne accompanied the astronauts.

        Dressed in dark blue NASA jumpsuits, Lt. Col. Creamer and Cmdr. Ferguson watched as Metalx machinists worked on engine parts.

        “Their level of dedication and (commitment) is especially impressive,” Lt. Col. Creamer said. “It's an increased comfort level.”

        Though neither of the astronauts has been in space yet, Cmdr. Ferguson said visiting NASA vendors provides insight to those who will fly the shuttles. For the vendors it can boost morale.

        “I think they really appreciate that someone shows an interest in what they are doing,” Cmdr. Ferguson said. “We benefit by the contact and getting to see the hardware in a state that we would never get to see it.”

        The financial and emotional stakes of working on space components isn't lost on those at Metalx, a 30-year-old firm.

        “Your performance is based on every part you work on,” said Rob Schuermann, director of the technical business unit at Metalx. “We've got to prove ourselves every time.”

Using an inflatable globe, Lt. Col. Timothy Creamer talks about space travel with Alix Hildal. | ZOOM |

        The company started making parts for the space program several years ago. Aerospace work accounts for about 40 percent of its business.

        The astronauts spoke before a gymful of elementary students at the Blue Ash Recreation Center.

        “I've always wanted to learn if they get scared when they go into space,” said Matthew Boyce, a fourth-grader from Blue Ash Ele mentary. “I found it interesting that it takes a lot of hard work and they have to study hard in school.”

        The mission was to promote science and the space program.

        “Without a doubt, kids and schools and teachers have a real soft spot for all of us,” Lt. Col. Creamer said. “If I can get people to dream a little bit ... I think we all benefit.”

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