Astronaut to inspire kids to take up maths, science
Nothing will end a child’s dream more quickly than someone telling them it is not possible.
This is according to US astronaut Don Thomas, 63, who will be in Port Elizabeth for the Living Maths Space Tour in September.
One of the main reasons for his tours is to motivate pupils to pursue astronomical studies, by sharing his experiences after orbiting the Earth 692 times.
“I am also keenly interested in having humans set foot on Mars in the future.
“I know I am too old myself to undertake a mission to Mars 20 years from now, but I hope I can excite and inspire learners to follow in my footsteps and become one of our future Mars explorers,” he said.
Thomas has returned following a sold-out tour last year.
He will travel from Cape Town, along the Garden Route, stopping in Port Elizabeth at Victoria Park High School.
Thomas has taken it upon himself to motivate pupils to excel in science and maths studies so that they stand a chance to travel to space in future.
With Nasa designing rockets for the Space Launch System – its next major step in space exploration to be tested for the first time in 2019 – Thomas said it was important to start grooming future astronauts to visit asteroids and to land on Mars within 20 years.
“Twenty years from now the astronauts who will be undertaking missions to Mars and setting foot on Mars are the learners [at school] today.
“This is part of why it is so important for them to learn maths and science and to be excited about being part of these missions.”
Thomas’s first space mission was for 15 days in 1994 on the STS-65 Columbia.
It was accomplished in 236 orbits of the Earth, travelling 9.8 million kilometres in 353 hours 55 minutes.
“When I was six, I watched the launch of the first US man in space on May 5 1961 on a small television set up in my school gymnasium.
“I knew then and there that I too wanted to become an astronaut and explore space.”
In his talks, Thomas will share his experiences as an astronaut and educate children about his line of work.
“One of the most important things schools and parents can do to help motivate kids is never to tell their children they cannot do something.”
The Living Maths Space Tour will visit:
● York High School, George, on September 20;
● Knysna Primary School on September 21;
● Piesang Valley Community Hall, Plettenberg Bay, on September 25;
● Victoria Park High School, Port Elizabeth, on September 25; and
● Victoria Girls’ High, Makhanda, on September 26.
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