For Mark Minchello, a 12th grader at Dexter Southfield in Brookline, Monday’s historic moon flyby by NASA’s Artemis II spaceship made him feel like one day, he could have that same experience.
“Until now, I didn’t realize that people could go that far,” he said. “In some aspects, it feels like I have the ability to do that. Like I am connected to them.”
Minchello, who is also co-president of Dexter Southfield’s Observatory Docent program, said he’s been amazed at the transcripts and videos from the astronauts.
“It’s 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,” 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.
“It’s amazing to see that it’s something tangible for our kids, not just something that can be imaginary,” said Chakara Cardillo, a science teacher at Randolph High School. “But it’s also something that’s realistic and that you can actually apply.”
As NASA’s 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’s 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.
“I think it will provide us with the hope and the belief that we are able to pursue the search of space,” said Modi, also a co-president of the observatory docent program. “I also think it will provide us with so much information that will allow us to not only learn about stuff we’ve never experienced before, but also take what we have learned and really be able to advance.”
Cardillo said she’s been amazed at how much the Artemis II mission has helped push her students’ “science thinking” forward in classroom discussions.
“When we’re 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,” 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.
“The Artemis II team, as well as our team, we’re all trying to work for a common goal of understanding how we can develop systems that can enrich our space exploration,” Cardillo said. “It 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.”
