Elementary Kids Reach for Infinity—and Beyond

Texas elementary kids participating in extracurricular aerospace education programs took off for the Red Planet on Nov. 15 and 22, respectively, thanks to a Speakers Bureau visit facilitated by NASA’s Johnson Space Center. The mock expeditions to one of the most enticing destinations ripe for human exploration were the culmination of unique programs at Nottingham Country Elementary School in Katy, Texas, and Red Rock Elementary School in Red Rock, Texas.

The Moon … then Mars. Andrzej Stewart shares his own experiences during analog missions with the budding explorers. Image courtesy of Jean Hare/Nottingham Elementary School

Intrepid young explorers donned flight suits, homemade helmets and life-support packs and gathered for send-off events prior to embarking on their mission. Guest presenter Andrzej Stewart, who by day is a flight controller for Leidos and was a participant in NASA’s Human Exploration Research Analog and Hawaii Space Exploration Analog and Simulation missions, spoke at both events, discussing what life is like for explorers during simulated space missions. Stewart emphasized the importance of realistic simulations — just like the missions students were participating in — as part of NASA’s preparations to return to the Moon and, eventually, venture onto Mars.

After the rousing send-off celebrations, the young astronauts boarded their inflatable “spacecraft” and, supported by teams of parents and teachers volunteering as flight controllers, began their simulated missions to Mars, participating in a number of team-based science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) activities.

Mission accomplished! STEM learning captivates the Artemis Generation to explore potential careers and outlets related to space exploration. Image courtesy of Jean Hare/Nottingham Elementary School