The National Aeronautics and Space Administration taught the S.T.E.M classes about their future launches and programs on April 4. NASA will be sending astronauts to the moon in 2024 on their SLS rocket. They will have a test run with no people in 2020 and it will orbit the moon to ensure everything is properly working. If there is a mishap, Nasa is already preparing for the worst case scenario.

“We can put 4 astronauts for 600 days in here [inside the Orion spacecraft capsule],” lead flight integration engineer for SLS Chad Brown said. “I personally wouldn’t want to do it.”

Giving students the opportunity to see what the space shuttles are like and what they consist of, students learned new information about what happens prior to a launch. The presenters also explained what type of thrust is needed to boost the ship into space.

“It was really interesting,” freshman Malida Sisouphanouvong said. “I felt like it taught me so much about space and gave me new information.”

Launching a rocket requires many people, Nasa provided the S.T.E.M students with information about the new jobs available for the SLS launch. They announced there will be jobs from programming the launch to taking care of the astronauts before the flight takes off.

“I felt pretty excited that Nasa was here,” sophomore Azariah Rodriguez said. “The information really interested me in the different jobs that are going to be available for the new launch.”

Being able to connect and share their experiences, students felt welcomed by the thought of working with Nasa.

“I really felt that they cared about my future and I finally felt needed,” senior Jacob Smith said. “ I am excited to see what is to come.”