Flying high: City school students visit NASA space centre

A group of students from Delhi Public School (DPS), Sushant Lok, recently returned from a trip to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Orlando as part of their Space School Programme.

A group of students from Delhi Public School (DPS), Sushant Lok, recently returned from a trip to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Orlando as part of their Space School Programme.

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The group, consisting of 48 students, was accompanied by five teachers on their trip to the US.

On their return, the students shared their experience of the two-day camp, which started with a visit to Washington DC’s Smithsonian Air and Space Museum - a precursor to the camp.

The workshop began with a first-hand experience of ‘simulated space shuttle launch’. The students were later introduced to concepts involving how the trajectory changes in zero-gravity zones, how a space shuttle is made and assembled and what goes into its successful launch.

“The students learnt about various aspects of space exploration through launch pad, simulation, games, movies, presentations, real-life models and activities. The group also interacted with astronaut Ken Cameron over lunch. Learning began from the moment children reached the airport in New Delhi. They learnt to value time and money, to share and care and above all, learnt teamwork,” said Sunita Nagpal, headmistress of DPS, Sushant Lok.

Describing her trip to National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Kennedy Space Center, Sania Khan, a student of Class 10, said, “It was an experience that took learning beyond the confines of the classroom and gave us a first-hand account of human adventure in space. We saw how the inside of a shuttle is insulated with light-weight fibre.”