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NASA ASTRONAUT, STUDENT SHARE DREAMS OF SPACE
By Tiffany Kelly
Glendale News Press
Jan 13 2012
CA
Astronaut encourages youngsters to study science, math at La Crescenta
school.
Schiff (D-Burbank) asking the congressman to invite an astronaut to
his school. Schiff often receives letters from students, but this
one was different, he said.
"Shant wrote me a wonderful, moving letter," he said. "I get a lot
of letters from kids on a variety of things. It was clear that he had
deep, abiding interest in space and in science, which I can relate to,
because I share it."
On Friday, Schiff granted the Altadena student his wish. He came to
Vahan and Anoush Chamlian Armenian School in La Crescenta with NASA
astronaut Gregory Chamitoff, a Caltech alum who gave a presentation
on his experience working at the International Space Station.
Armenian said that he felt lucky to have his request granted, and
that it was a great experience for the approximately 300 students
at the campus who attended the presentation. He became interested in
space at a young age, he said, and is regularly involved with Burbank
Sidewalk Astronomers, a group that sets up telescopes in the street
for passers-by.
Talking to a real astronaut was important to Armenian because he
aspires to become one.
"It's always been my dream to go to Mars," he said. "I want to be
the first person to go to Mars."
After the presentation, Chamitoff fielded questions from students on
the damage the Space Station causes to the ozone layer, his plans to
return to space and what inspired him to become an astronaut. Like
Armenian, he said he aspired to go to space from a young age, but
getting there was a difficult journey.
"The hardest part is to hold on to your dreams," Chamitoff said. "If
you really want to do this, you have to set your own standards
for yourself. If you think you're going to get there, then I think
you will."
Talking to students about space travel is the most important thing
astronauts can do to inspire the next generation, he said. "If
something like this can encourage kids to study science, math,
engineering and technology, it's really valuable."
Schiff, who works with NASA every year to bring an astronaut to one
of the schools in his district, agreed. "Nothing inspires kids, in my
experience, more than a visit from an astronaut. If you look at these
faces around the auditorium, they're so enthralled, he said. This
kind of inspiration is so important, and you never know who you're
going to touch."
"I think we have some future astronauts here in the audience and a
lot of future scientists," he added.
On his last mission in 2008, Chamitoff completed two space walks and
floated in space for a total of 13 hours.
"There were a few moments that I just stopped and stared at the Earth
with my whole eyes, and it will be with me forever," he said. "It
was phenomenal."
By Tiffany Kelly
Glendale News Press
Jan 13 2012
CA
Astronaut encourages youngsters to study science, math at La Crescenta
school.
Schiff (D-Burbank) asking the congressman to invite an astronaut to
his school. Schiff often receives letters from students, but this
one was different, he said.
"Shant wrote me a wonderful, moving letter," he said. "I get a lot
of letters from kids on a variety of things. It was clear that he had
deep, abiding interest in space and in science, which I can relate to,
because I share it."
On Friday, Schiff granted the Altadena student his wish. He came to
Vahan and Anoush Chamlian Armenian School in La Crescenta with NASA
astronaut Gregory Chamitoff, a Caltech alum who gave a presentation
on his experience working at the International Space Station.
Armenian said that he felt lucky to have his request granted, and
that it was a great experience for the approximately 300 students
at the campus who attended the presentation. He became interested in
space at a young age, he said, and is regularly involved with Burbank
Sidewalk Astronomers, a group that sets up telescopes in the street
for passers-by.
Talking to a real astronaut was important to Armenian because he
aspires to become one.
"It's always been my dream to go to Mars," he said. "I want to be
the first person to go to Mars."
After the presentation, Chamitoff fielded questions from students on
the damage the Space Station causes to the ozone layer, his plans to
return to space and what inspired him to become an astronaut. Like
Armenian, he said he aspired to go to space from a young age, but
getting there was a difficult journey.
"The hardest part is to hold on to your dreams," Chamitoff said. "If
you really want to do this, you have to set your own standards
for yourself. If you think you're going to get there, then I think
you will."
Talking to students about space travel is the most important thing
astronauts can do to inspire the next generation, he said. "If
something like this can encourage kids to study science, math,
engineering and technology, it's really valuable."
Schiff, who works with NASA every year to bring an astronaut to one
of the schools in his district, agreed. "Nothing inspires kids, in my
experience, more than a visit from an astronaut. If you look at these
faces around the auditorium, they're so enthralled, he said. This
kind of inspiration is so important, and you never know who you're
going to touch."
"I think we have some future astronauts here in the audience and a
lot of future scientists," he added.
On his last mission in 2008, Chamitoff completed two space walks and
floated in space for a total of 13 hours.
"There were a few moments that I just stopped and stared at the Earth
with my whole eyes, and it will be with me forever," he said. "It
was phenomenal."