NASA veteran Mike Massimino shares space secrets with pupils
Former NASA astronaut Mike Massimino engaged with students at PM SHRI Kendriya Vidyalaya today, sharing his experiences from space and offering insights into the future of space exploration. During his visit, Massimino toured the school’s advanced facilities, including the AR-VR Lab, Atal Tinkering Lab, and the language lab, interacting with students keen to learn more about space missions and technologies.
Massimino, who has flown on two space missions, praised India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission, highlighting its global importance. He spoke about the challenges of landing on the Moon’s South Pole and how the mission could provide crucial information about water resources necessary for future lunar habitation. He also emphasized the role of international collaboration in future space endeavours.
In an interactive session with students, Massimino recalled how a movie about seven astronauts inspired him to become an astronaut. He answered numerous questions about space exploration, including topics like the food astronauts eat during missions, how they adapt to zero gravity, and the technological challenges they face. Students were particularly curious about AI’s role in space exploration, and Massimino explained how artificial intelligence can enhance efficiency, safety, and cost-effectiveness in future missions.
When asked about the challenges of pursuing a career as an astronaut, Massimino encouraged students to explore various scientific fields, including soil sciences and marine biology, as they are essential for space research. He also addressed the students’ questions regarding human habitation on Mars, explaining that while living on the Moon could become a reality soon, settling on Mars would take longer due to the technological hurdles that still need to be overcome.
