For Udgat, a Class XI student, meeting astronauts and scientists was the most exciting part, while space shuttle simulations made Mrinalini, Class XII student, understand the challenging situation faced by astronauts.
The 14-day educational tour to NASA Kennedy Space Centre, Orlando offered a beautiful experience to the students of Oakridge International School, Tagarapuvalasa. A total of 29 students from Class IV to XII visited the US, which included many interesting places which they would remember forever. During their visit to the Space Centre, they met two astronauts – Jon McBride, one of the directors of Kennedy Space Centre, and Jack R. Lousma.
Inspiring experience
“It was inspiring to see them in person,” Karthik of Class X said. “They encouraged us to participate in Mars expedition of NASA, one of its future expeditions. It was nice to experience various space exploration activities,” explained some of the students. After the successful completion of the activities, all the students received certificates.
The educational trip of the students, accompanied by three teachers, Vaishali More, Dimple Thompson and Rati Singh, included places like Times Square, New York Stock Exchange, Niagara Falls, Empire State Building, and Universal Studios, among others. With a majority of the students visiting the US for the first time, each one of them had something interesting to narrate. “It was quite exciting to visit theme parks -- Island of Adventure and Wet n Wild other -- than the space centre,” added Stuti, another student.
Principal in-charge of the school, M. Rama, said that it was an opportunity for the children to be exposed to a domain which they could pursue.
