Marissa Hafele’s third grade class watched as NASA spokesperson Patricia Moore outlined Artemis, a program to return astronauts to the moon by 2024. It goes beyond the landings of the 1960’s and 70’s. The goal this time is to learn to live on another planet.
The students had practical questions like, “how do you eat in space, how long does it take to make a space suit, or are kids somehow going to be able to go to the moon?”
Educators say outlining NASA’s plan for the moon and Mars fits the mission of the magnet school.
“Aerospace is a very broad topic, but it’s always a topic that’s interesting, it’s a topic where there’s a lot going on, it’s a topic that ties to so many other things that our learners are able to be experts or leaders in different areas,” said Curriculum Integration Coordinator Kate Watson.
Watson says it helps engage students in regular school work. NASA hopes it encourages interest in science and technology careers and re-ignites a passion for space exploration.
“The fact that we’re going to go to the moon again and have a permanent base there to start working on Mars is actually kind of cool,” said Eleazar Walker, a fifth grade student.
Another sees career possibilities on the ground.
“Making the spaceships, because you get to experiment with all the different materials,” said Haley Holland, a fifth grade student.
NASA calls them the Artemis generation.
“I do think NASA is trying to harness that curiosity and excitement from younger students and also loop in all generations,” said Watson.
NASA hopes to inspire a new generation as it moves into a new chapter.
All 600 students from kindergarten through 5th grade at University Avenue Elementary took part in the NASA call.
