For Mark Minchello, a 12th grader at Dexter Southfield in Brookline, Monday\u2019s historic moon flyby by NASA\u2019s Artemis II spaceship made him feel like one day, he could have that same experience.
\u201cUntil now, I didn\u2019t realize that people could go that far,\u201d he said. \u201cIn some aspects, it feels like I have the ability to do that. Like I am connected to them.\u201d
Minchello, who is also co-president of Dexter Southfield\u2019s Observatory Docent program, said he\u2019s been amazed at the transcripts and videos from the astronauts.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s absolutely truly amazing and an honor to just be alive at the time when I can see these people who are going up and being slingshot around the moon in a mission that will, if successful, provide the framework for later exploration and possibly being able to land on the moon,\u201d he said.
The four-astronaut crew is the first in 50 years to visit the moon. The spaceship reached its maximum distance from Earth at 252,756 miles, breaking the previous record set by the Apollo 13 mission in 1970 by 4,111 miles.
The mission is sparking a new level of excitement for local science teachers and students.
\u201cIt\u2019s amazing to see that it\u2019s something tangible for our kids, not just something that can be imaginary,\u201d said Chakara Cardillo, a science teacher at Randolph High School. \u201cBut it\u2019s also something that\u2019s realistic and that you can actually apply.\u201d
As NASA\u2019s Orion spacecraft made its way around the back side of the moon Monday, the crew experienced a communications blackout. But they also viewed never-before-seen parts of the moon\u2019s surface that are not visible from earth, discovering two moon craters.
Tara Modi, a 12th grader at Dexter Southfield, said the mission highlights the importance of space exploration and research.
\u201cI think it will provide us with the hope and the belief that we are able to pursue the search of space,\u201d said Modi, also a co-president of the observatory docent program. \u201cI also think it will provide us with so much information that will allow us to not only learn about stuff we\u2019ve never experienced before, but also take what we have learned and really be able to advance.\u201d
Cardillo said she\u2019s been amazed at how much the Artemis II mission has helped push her students\u2019 \u201cscience thinking\u201d forward in classroom discussions.
\u201cWhen we\u2019re having these conversations of how an astronaut sustains the long length of a journey, the kids can really have a sense of understanding of all the things that go into play, in a sense of what they have to deal with, with problem solving and adaptation,\u201d she said.
Cardillo is leading a group of students who are preparing their own project for orbit after winning the NASA Student TechRise challenge.
She said those students are also feeling inspired by the Artemis II mission.
\u201cThe Artemis II team, as well as our team, we\u2019re all trying to work for a common goal of understanding how we can develop systems that can enrich our space exploration,\u201d Cardillo said. \u201cIt definitely shifted their mindset that not only do they love space, but they love everything that it has to offer for the unknown of exploring.\u201d<\/p>\n
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