'For 15 years, humanity's reach has extended beyond the Earth's atmosphere', said National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) administrator Charles Bolden in a statement on the 15th anniversary of the International Space Station this week.
The statement holds true for anyone who is synonymous with US-based NASA's iconic work and contribution to research related to outer universe. Students of city-based school St. Mary's Academy got a hands-on experience of the same when 76 of them visited NASA's supreme launch complex Kennedy Space Centre as part of the Astronaut Training Experience (ATX).
In an interaction with TOI, the students couldn't stop talking about their experience of weightlessness at a micro-gravity ball at the Centre. The once-in-a lifetime experience has left the students enthralled and has sure fired their dreams like a bright supernova. Now, a career in space research is top of their career options for many of them.
Siddharth Agarwal, a class XII student, said, "I always had great interest in astronomy and had read a lot of literature but being part of an experience at NASA was never part of my plans. It appeared like a distant dream. But my time at the Astronaut Training Centre was certainly a life changing experience for me. We had an elaborate discussion with the instructors on ways to become an astronaut. They are normal people like us and I will be part of the great organization one day."
Vansh Sodhi, another student of the school, said, "We spent three days at training and touring facilities at Kennedy Space Centre. We experienced 'Life as an Astronaut' through a gamut of theoretical interactions and hands-on activities. We trained on motion based simulators, modeled after those who trained for the Apollo and Shuttle programmes. We experienced the thrill of being launched into space missions. It was mind boggling."
Another class IX student Anaadi Pathak, added, "Meeting astronaut Sir John Mc Bride, was truly remarkable. During the interactive session, we got an insight into the intricacies of space science. I decided that very moment that I would opt for space research in the future. I'm yet to get over the overwhelming experience to think of which stream to choose under space research, but it will definitely happen. The in-depth knowledge we gained about the Hubble telescope was truly an eye opener."
Principal of St. Marys Academy, Brother Babu Verghese, who also accompanied the students on the trip, said, "The basic aim to coordinate a NASA visit for our students was to provide them with adequate exposure in the field of space research that would ultimately help them to choose their careers rightly. I am happy many of our students have already made up their minds. I am sure that one day, our students would be working for the prestigious organization."
The statement holds true for anyone who is synonymous with US-based NASA's iconic work and contribution to research related to outer universe. Students of city-based school St. Mary's Academy got a hands-on experience of the same when 76 of them visited NASA's supreme launch complex Kennedy Space Centre as part of the Astronaut Training Experience (ATX).
In an interaction with TOI, the students couldn't stop talking about their experience of weightlessness at a micro-gravity ball at the Centre. The once-in-a lifetime experience has left the students enthralled and has sure fired their dreams like a bright supernova. Now, a career in space research is top of their career options for many of them.
Siddharth Agarwal, a class XII student, said, "I always had great interest in astronomy and had read a lot of literature but being part of an experience at NASA was never part of my plans. It appeared like a distant dream. But my time at the Astronaut Training Centre was certainly a life changing experience for me. We had an elaborate discussion with the instructors on ways to become an astronaut. They are normal people like us and I will be part of the great organization one day."
Vansh Sodhi, another student of the school, said, "We spent three days at training and touring facilities at Kennedy Space Centre. We experienced 'Life as an Astronaut' through a gamut of theoretical interactions and hands-on activities. We trained on motion based simulators, modeled after those who trained for the Apollo and Shuttle programmes. We experienced the thrill of being launched into space missions. It was mind boggling."
Another class IX student Anaadi Pathak, added, "Meeting astronaut Sir John Mc Bride, was truly remarkable. During the interactive session, we got an insight into the intricacies of space science. I decided that very moment that I would opt for space research in the future. I'm yet to get over the overwhelming experience to think of which stream to choose under space research, but it will definitely happen. The in-depth knowledge we gained about the Hubble telescope was truly an eye opener."
Principal of St. Marys Academy, Brother Babu Verghese, who also accompanied the students on the trip, said, "The basic aim to coordinate a NASA visit for our students was to provide them with adequate exposure in the field of space research that would ultimately help them to choose their careers rightly. I am happy many of our students have already made up their minds. I am sure that one day, our students would be working for the prestigious organization."
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