Boredom with Science Class
The problem he has with the class is that everything seems absurdly complicated and he doesn't see the point in studying all of it. Jeffrey's teacher has been aware of his peculiar student and as an alternative solution suggested a field trip to the famous research center called Kennedy Space Center. All the students in the room jumped with excitement upon hearing the news, except Jeffrey who gave a huge sigh because he knew it was going to be a boring day.
Getting out of the classroom
The day of the excursion arrived and it was inevitable to hear the expectations that everyone had about the place. Jeffrey rather not to say much about it and slept on the bus while it reached its destination. After a few hours, Jeffrey heard a babble starting to form inside the bus. The noise was so loud that Jeffrey decided to open his eyes to investigate what was happening. Pleasant was his surprise when he saw the enormous installations that everyone could see from the glass of the window. All the students began to get off the bus and walk towards the main entrance where they would be greeted.
The Kennedy Space Center
Jeffrey seemed to be the most amazed of the whole group, he really couldn't believe that in that enormous building they are dedicated to working on the science that he ignores so much.
Arriving at the main entrance, the group found a tall and thin man in a large white coat leaning against one of the pillars of the place.
- Good morning guys, my name is Matthew and today I will have the pleasure of being your guide on today's tour.
All the children responded correctly to Matthew's greeting and proceeded through the giant white door next to him. Passing through the door, the group found themselves in a narrow dark room, dimly lit with blue lights that connected to the next room.
- Let's see guys, do any of you have any idea of what we do in this place? Matthew asked as he walked.
Quickly hands and shouts went up in the room
- "Spaceships are built" "Expeditions to Mars are carried out" "It is where astronauts live" Replied some children in the group.
- Well, certainly all the answers are correct, but what if I told you that we do all that and MORE. Matthew yelled as if signaling the start of an Olympic race.
After the thunderous scream echoed through the walls, the room began to light up, revealing that the room where everyone was really an exclusive NASA museum. Jeffrey and the rest of the children were amazed to see where they really stood.
- Here at the John F. Kennedy Space Center we take care, like the rest of the space fields distributed in the country, of managing all the research related to Aeronautics and space. Some of the most famous space operations in human history have been carried out here, such as the “Apollo” mission. Matthew mentioned as he pointed to one of the exhibits on the site.
Everyone in the room was in sync with Matthew except for Jeffrey who had a slightly unsettling face.
- I have a question. Jeffrey said as he raised his hand
- Tell me your doubts. Matthew replied
- What is the use of studying all this if we live on a single planet? Jeffrey asked
Matthew was surprised to hear this as he thought all the children were having a good time on the tour. Matthew was about to answer the question, when suddenly a bell rang, indicating the recess of the people who worked in the place. Matthew indicated that recess time was going to start shortly, so he was going to give a couple of minutes so that everyone could view the exhibition that most caught their attention. Most of the kids split up into small groups while Jeffrey decided to go on his own in search of something that could answer his question.
Jeffrey walked to one end of the room, but found nothing relevant enough to satisfy his curiosity. Jeffrey was about to give up when he suddenly noticed an exhibit with a flat screen TV and a small scale model of what appeared to be a ship. What most caught his attention were the images that were being broadcast on the television, it was a spectacle of reddish explosions that resembled a shower of fireworks.
Matthew saw Jeffrey in the distance at the “Parker Solar Probe” exhibit and decided to approach him slowly so as not to surprise him.
- “I see that you are also fascinated by the beauty of the largest celestial body in the solar system”. Matthew said as he approached Jeffrey
- “What? Are you saying that video is from the sun? But how is it possible to record the sun from that distance?” Jeffrey asked surprised
- “Well it's all thanks to the ‘Parker Solar Probe’ The first spacecraft capable of touching the sun”. Matthew replied as he pointed to the scale model
- “How is it possible that it can be so close without melting?” Jeffrey asked while thinking that he had made a mistake by asking because, surely the answer will be very complicated
- “I’m glad to hear that you are interested in the subject. You see the front of the ship? Imagine it's like a heat shield that prevents the parts inside from getting hot. The same ship has solar panels as you can see to produce energy for the operation of the ship. Imagine how amazing the ship is to automatically adjust its position to always be in the right place”. Matthew explained
- “Wow I thought it was more complicated than it was”. Jeffrey replied
- “Hey kid, could I ask you something this time?” Matthew asked as he smiled. “Why did you say that our science has no purpose?”
- “I really didn't mean it that way, sorry”. Jeffrey answered quickly.
- “You know, I failed science class a lot of times and look at me now! I think that everything in life has a ‘why’ so it can be studied. The ‘Parker Solar Probe’ will work to better understand what our sun is made of, it’s our future that will prosper with results. That’s how incredible space is. There’s always something new to learn”.
he second bell rang in the room and Matthew guided Jeffrey with the rest of the group to continue the tour. Hours went by and it was time that every student went home. Jeffrey didn’t feel a big change in him after the field trip, but for the first time in a while, Jeffrey was able to participate in his astronomy class.
Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center