By Danielle Sempsrott and Jason Costa, with assistance from students at St. Cloud High School and Storm Grove Middle School
NASA’s Kennedy Space Center
Like the Apollo Generation before it, today’s Artemis Generation is building on their successes, paving the way for future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Making humanity’s next giant leap requires a workforce strong in STEM, so NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida is engaging students today to help meet tomorrow’s lofty goals.
During a recent January afternoon, 48 middle and high school students attended a media briefing at Kennedy, where they had the opportunity to act as journalists – hearing about different careers supporting our nation’s space program and to ask NASA leaders about the successful Artemis I flight test, the first in an increasingly complex series of missions that will send the first woman and first person of color to the Moon.
“This experience helps make those jobs more tangible; kids can see themselves in those roles and it really opens their eyes to the fact that there are opportunities at NASA beyond STEM as well,” said teacher Alexander Southall of St. Cloud High School in Florida. “They might not think they have the wherewithal to do something like this, so it’s really cool for them to get this new perspective.”
The briefing aired on NASA Television, allowing students from across the country to watch live and phone in additional questions. Answering the questions were Kennedy’s Deputy Director Kelvin Manning, Artemis I Launch Director Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, Manager of the Space Launch System (SLS) Resident Management Office Elkin Norena, and Space Launch Delta 45 Weather Officer Melody Lovin.
The panelists provided an overview of the Artemis I mission, discussed Kennedy’s role in processing and launching SLS and Orion, explained how weather affects a launch, and provided information on Artemis II and the future of the agency’s deep space exploration plans.
The leaders closed out the briefing with some words of advice for the students. Manning encouraged those interested in science, technology, engineering, and math careers to find where their talents and interests intersect with applicable fields. Lovin reminded students that the pursuit of perfection may seem noble, but oftentimes steady improvement and the ability to pivot make a larger impact. Blackwell-Thompson, while referencing the on-orbit imagery captured by Orion on its trip around the Moon, emphasized that a person can do anything he or she dreams.
“I look at this picture and wonder what the view will look like in 10 or 20 years. That will be yours to determine,” she said.
Students who attended in person also had the opportunity to hear from members of NASA’s Office of Communications – those who help tell the NASA story – and participate in a writing exercise, culminating with them conducting interviews and sharing what they learned.
“This experience opened my eyes to STEM and space, and it made me think this might be something that I could really do with my life,” said Yariana Perez, a junior at St. Cloud High School.
Many of the students, both at the high school and middle school level, said this experience helped show the important role math and science play not only in school, but in many jobs as well; that everything NASA does relies on a passionate team of individuals working together; and that there is no unimportant role.
Eighth grader Omariah Foote from Storm Grove Middle School in Florida said she was surprised to learn how many opportunities there are at NASA, while Praislyn Ash – also an eighth grader at Storm Grove Middle – said it influenced how she thinks about NASA, ultimately introducing her to a variety of STEM and STEM-adjacent careers.
The event, coordinated through NASA Connects in partnership with the Next Gen STEM project through NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement, left students, educators, and center leaders feeling inspired, engaged, and eager for the future.
“You are the generation that will determine where we go next and how we get there, so it’s very exciting to me,” Blackwell-Thompson said. “I can’t wait when my time in this seat is done, and maybe one of you is sitting here, to hear you talk about the places you’re going to visit and the things that you’re going to do.”
For more information on NASA’s STEM programs and initiatives, visit: NASA Learning Resources