Twelve-year-old Ethan Neuerburg took a break from visiting spaceflight processing facilities and cutting-edge laboratories long enough to check out the television studio at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Normally, the aspiring NASA mechanical engineer would be in school instead of accompanying his mother, Wendy Neuerburg, of Kennedy’s Center Planning and Development Directorate. But this was Take a Child to Work Day, and Ethan was one of hundreds of local children to take advantage of the rare opportunity to trade in their pencils and homework for a day at the space center.
“So far, we’ve visited the Space Station Processing Facility, Launch Pad 39B, and the mobile launcher, and we’re going to the Vehicle Assembly Building next,” Ethan said, listing the places he’d seen engineering in action so far.
Kennedy held its Take a Child to Work Day in conjunction with the national Take Our Sons and Daughters to Work Day. The April 28 event allowed children across the country to accompany their parents, relatives or other sponsors into the workplace to see firsthand the connection between what they’re learning in school today and where it could lead their careers.
As the nation’s premier launch center and one of NASA’s proving grounds for the journey to Mars, Kennedy is well-positioned to highlight the parallels between aerospace careers and the students’ own lessons in science, technology, engineering and math.
“I hope they learn how fun it is to work out here, and how important the work we do here is for everyone on Earth,” said Matthew English, a NASA configuration management specialist in Kennedy’s Exploration Research and Technology Programs office. English was stationed in the Space Station Processing Facility’s high bay, where he chatted with kids and pointed out a floor marker that helped visitors get a feel for the 361-foot length of the orbiting laboratory.
“I love seeing the look on their faces when they learn how big the station is,” he said.
Jenni Rivera, program manager for the center’s Engineering Services contract, brought her 14-year-old, Melanie.
“She’s very interested in the space program, and I’m hoping she’ll have a career out here,” Rivera said.
“This gives her an overview of what we do out here in addition to what they learn in school. It’s more hands-on,” she added.
Kennedy was ready to capture the children’s imaginations with a full day of programs, demonstrations and tours designed to give them a wide range of experiences. A “Gee Whiz” presentation by the NASA Education Office explained how astronauts live and work in space, while the Launch Services Program gave kids the chance to learn the fundamentals of rocketry as they built and launched air rockets. The Protective Services team and their K-9 crew even showed what it takes to keep the center’s valuable space hardware, one-of-a-kind facilities and stellar workforce safe and secure.
The future of space exploration also was on full display. NASA’s Space Launch System rocket will be assembled and launched in Launch Complex 39, where a driving tour took kids and their grown-up sponsors past the mobile launcher, crawlerway and Launch Pad 39B. Commercial Crew Program experts chatted with children about the spacecraft and rockets needed for deep-space exploration and access to the station. Lockheed Martin showcased its Orion spacecraft and Boeing featured its CST-100 Starliner module.
Ten-year-old Addison Justice joined his father, KSC TV Producer Michael Justice, in the center’s television studio for part of the day, between tours and visits to other facilities.
“I like the cameras,” Addison said, noting that he and other children had put on a little show. “The cameras are a fun-filled thing!”
One of the long-term goals of Take a Child to Work Day is to spark an “aha” moment in the minds of children. English recalled visiting Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama with his father.
“Ever since then, I always wanted to work for NASA,” English said.
It was a fun day for all, regardless of where their dreams may carry them.
“I was happy to go with my dad and spend some time with him,” Addison said, giving his dad a high-five.