Even non-rocket scientists are getting excited about a revitalized “space race,” thanks to last week’s successful Falcon Heavy rocket launch by SpaceX and its founder, Elon Musk. Renewed efforts by government and private entities to go back to the moon, and even sending cargo to Mars as early as 2022, are contagious.

And all that brings added interest to space happenings in Hawaii’s own back yard, such as the University of Hawaii’s Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation (HI-SEAS), which confines a crew for months inside a geodesic dome atop Mauna Loa. With the Hawaii island mountain terrain simulating Mars’s surface, a four-person crew on Thursday began its eight-month “mission” inside the dome; the NASA-funded project will study human behavior and performance in space.

Waialua teacher in contention for big prize

A hearty congratulations to Glenn Lee for putting Waialua High and Intermediate School’s science and technology program on the global map. Lee, who has led Waialua’s robotics program to outsized success, is one of 10 finalists for the $1 million Global Teacher Prize, and the only American in the group.

The prize calls attention to the contributions of great teachers in advancing education — what Bill Gates, philanthropist and co-founder of Microsoft, calls the “master switch” that leads to a better world.

It’s a big deal, especially for a small public school. To learn how big, visit www.globalteacherprize.org.