11^th Annual Space School Program (2019) at NASA (KSC, USA)

A group of 33, comprising of thirty students and three teachers Suparna Sharma, Kavita Tewari and Paramvir Singh of Delhi Public School, Gurgaon, participated in the 11th Annual Space School Program at NASA (KSC, USA). Under the able guidance of our Director Principal Ms. Aditi Misra, the school has been organizing this Annual Space Program to nurture the scientific talent of the students and to enhance their awareness of space science. The Camp KSC organized by ‘Edterra Edventures’ was a two-day camp, which gave the students an opportunity to explore various aspects of NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) from its dramatic history and exciting present to its compelling future. They got an opportunity to see an actual Saturn V rocket and the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), one of the world’s largest structures in volume and the launch complex. The shuttle launch experience and the IMAX movie on International Space Station (ISS), hands on activities at Astronaut Training Xperience center, inspired the students by encouraging education and fostering the next generation of scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs. Talking about astronauts, the students even had the chance of meeting and interacting with astronaut Anna Fisher. She enthusiastically shared the information about her space missions and her experiences. It was truly the exhilarating NASA experience for the students.

The students also had a fun filled week after completing the space school program. They spent an evening at Cocoa Beach in Florida. They also visited the theme park in Florida - The Islands of Adventure. The kids enjoyed the thrilling rides at the Universal Island of Adventure.

The next stop over was at Niagara to view the world famous waterfalls up close, by taking a ferry ride “Maid of the mist”. It was an amazing experience to view this natural wonder so closely.

From Niagara we reached Boston and had a guided tour of the Harvard University, which inspired the young minds. We also had a unique chance of visiting Old North Church in Boston and walk along the “Freedom Trail” the starting point of American Revolution.

Lastly in New York, students had a guided city tour, visited the Statue of Liberty, the Freedom Tower, Ground Zero, Wall Street, Manhattan Bridge and Times Square.

It was an enriching learning experience for the entire group where we witnessed American values and culture on one hand and technological advancements on the other.