NEBRASKA CITY – NASA representatives told Nebraska City middle schoolers Tuesday about robotic missions to outer space, the chance of humans living on mars and the dangers of space debris, but mostly they talked about opportunity for the next generation.

Jarrod Bales of NASA’s Launch Service Program said NASA sometimes plans missions that are 20 years down the road and is counting on America’s young people to see it through.

Bales: “Every single one of you are going to be a part of that plan because, if we’re going to continue to do the things that we are doing as an agency or what we are doing as a country, we are counting on you.

… I want you to show up every single day on purpose and make the most of the rest of your school year.”

 

 

Sixth grade teacher Elizabeth Dunn is a member of the Nebraska Space Ambassadors who attended a teacher’s event in Florida last summer and encouraged Bales to visit Nebraska.

She says it’s important for students to know there are many opportunities.

   Dunn: “I think a lot of times, especially middle school kids, they are thinking when they graduate from high school and possibly college … there world is very small, I think, on what kind of jobs they might have or might be available to them. I think NASA is a perfect organization to show that  you can do so many cool things in so many different fields.”

 

Bales played football at Florida and graduated with a degree focus in families, youth and community sciences. He never imagined a career with NASA until the opportunity appeared.

Brittney Lane, a  structural dynamics and loads engineer, said a class in vibrations started her career path toward NASA. Her work in spacecraft vibration testing has helped ensure safe rides into space and she is working on SPHEREx, an all-sky spectral survey.

Student: “Is it hard to get into NASA?”

Bales: “If it’s something you really want, you go again. Why do they tell me no? How can I become better as a candidate, so that I can get a yes. Because I know plenty of stories of people who we work with, who applied five, six, seven, eight, nine times before they got a yes. So, don’t let the no define you. Don’t let someone telling you no be the final decision, keep pushing through.”

Mission manager Chuck Tatro lists the James Webb Telescope among his team’s accomplishments and is currently working on the return to the moon called Artemis.

 Dunn: “I think they have a lot to learn and I think they need a lot more exploration, a lot more experiences like this one, about how many cool jobs or professions there are out there that match their passion.”

The ancient history teacher said she is looking forward to getting feedback from students and hear what curiosity it sparks.

Students: “lift off.”