NASA Education Programs

If you ever have the opportunity to go to any NASA education programs at Kennedy Space Center, do it! I have had an opportunity to go with my sons to go to two separate NASA Education events one in the Saturn IV center and one in the Atlantis building, both of these events are about teaching the next generation to love the US Space Program! 

The NASA education department does a masterful job of challenging people to think from the moment they step foot on John F. Kennedy Space Center there are actual artifacts and flight hardware from the rocket garden to where you eat dinner to the Mars exhibits and finally ending with either the Saturn V Center or Atlantis Center depending on which program you choose or are given the opportunity to experience. The docents are extremely knowledgeable and patient with the young men and women ages 7-14 who are allowed to participate.

There is always an engineering component to the first day of the event either an egg drop competition where you have to design a parachute system that will survive being dropped from high in the Saturn V building to mimic what the engineering of a capsule returning from cislunar space would have to solve. The other engineering activity that they use is building a bridge out of Connex that will support 10 pounds of force to show that engineers had to develop structures whether on the ISS or the airframe of the shuttle to be able to support the necessary weight and loads while also being the lightest possible to maximize launch and on orbit operations. These tasks are invaluable when it comes to inspiring the next generation of spaceflight engineers, operators and astronauts.

After the engineering tasks, then they have the attendees get ready for bed and get to sleep under Atlantis or Saturn V and to be able to as you are falling asleep the last thing you see is either a flight proven hardware, Atlantis, or one that would have flown had the program continued (Saturn V) Even as one adult said "I am getting interested in space program while being here. When is the next launch?" this is integral to the consistent renewal of interest in the space program whether it be youth or adults the importance doesn't change

One of the most important things is that attendees get to go tour John F. Kennedy Space Center and if they bought an add on such as meeting an astronaut or as I recommend, the explore tour they get to see behind the scenes of the premier spaceport in the world. If you choose to buy the explore tour you get to go the Gantry 39 where you can see all the launch pads from the Blue Origin Pad at 36 to the NASA pad at 39B. You also get out at 39A/B camera spot and the Vehicle Assembly building. You drive next to the Starship tower at 39A and SpaceX Gigabay it is well worth the 30 dollars per person (26 for kids under 12) to see all of the pads up close, but even if someone doesn't buy that extra tour they also have access to seeing 39A and B from the Saturn V center and being able to go into the Exploration exhibit and see a actual Orion and Cargo Dragon on display and a replica of Starliner and the Atlantis building is going to not only changes peoples lives but potentially the trajectory of their career. Is it possible that we have the next Gene Kranz, Buzz Aldrin, Nancy Grace, Kathrine Johnson, Neil Armstrong, John Glenn or Alan Shepherd that is inspired by a visit to the John F. Kennedy Space Center and participates in a NASA Education program.