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ATTLEBORO - At a time when many sixth-graders are looking forward to summer vacation or trips with family, Beth Clifton and Emily Capar have set their sights a little higher.

Space, actually.

The two Brennan Middle School pupils will undergo survival training, participate in team-building exercises and perform simulated space missions at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, an arm of NASA, June 8-14 in Huntsville, Ala.

The girls won a school essay contest to notch spots in the Space Camp roster.

The students' tuition fees will be paid for by a scholarship obtained by Brennan teacher Caron Heller, a former adult Space Camp trainee, and a $1,000 grant from Sensata Technologies. Beth, 11, and Emily, 12, are keenly interested in science, and say they can't wait for the experience.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said Beth, who added that she and Emily are counting the days until they leave.

Emily said she's so excited, she keeps reminding her friend how much time remains until liftoff.

Heller, a finalist for last year's Massachusetts Teacher of the Year award, was awarded a trip to Space Camp in 2007, and was offered the chance to bring home a scholarship for a student. The Sun Chronicle's Newspaper In Education Coordinator Kathleen Powell obtained a grant from Sensata so that a second student would be able to share the experience.

Heller said she thoroughly enjoyed her experience at the camp, and wanted to share the opportunity with sixth-graders at her school. Sixth grade is traditionally when most Attleboro elementary students learn about space, including the solar system, astronomy and space travel.

The girls should be in for more than their share of thrills.

A brochure issued by the Space and Rocket Center shows students riding in a G-force simulator, climbing a rock wall that simulates a Martian environment and participating in a moon buggy race.

While that may be fun, Beth and Emily take a slightly more serious view of the importance of space flight.

"By going into space, we want to find out what it's like on other planets," Emily said.

Beth said lessons learned in space can be applied back on Earth to develop new technologies. Strapping into a simulated spacecraft isn't the only adventure awaiting the girls. Beth and Emily will also be making the trip to Alabama on their own, a launchpad moment for any two pre-teens. The girls will be met at the airport by Space Camp personnel, however.

Emily is the daughter of Gazi Capar and Cindy Tangney. Beth's parents are James Clifton and Kimberly Mowry.

While the girls won't really be leaving earth, they said they wouldn't flinch at the opportunity to really travel in space as astronauts. "I think it would be a little scary, but I'd still go," Beth said. "It's something I've never done before."