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24 November 2014

JUST days after the Rosetta space probe landed on a comet recently, sixth former Farhia Osman, 17, got to meet a real life NASA astronaut when he touched down in the capital.

Stephen Oswald, who retired as a NASA pilot in 2000, visited London last Friday (November 14) to talk to students about his space adventures and show them where a career in science can take them.

REACHING FOR THE STARS: Retired NASA astronaut with HGAED student Fahir (second left) plus Rheana, Larry and William from Harris Academy Upper Norwood.

"I thought the kids were awesome," said Mr Oswald. "All the kids in the UK have been energised but this audience is better in my mind in terms of the discussion.

"They were asking great questions. It was a very mature audience because usually the "how do you go to the bathroom in space?" question comes up and it didn't come up here at all."

Mr Oswald was in the US Navy for ten years and trained as a US Navy test pilot before joining NASA. He piloted three missions into space, but in his own words: "I was just there to drive the bus."

"I thought space was great, I loved going there," said Mr Oswald as he answered students' questions.

"You don't see any borders from space"

"Everyone comes away feeling disappointed we can't all get on better on earth because it's not really that big. We're used to seeing maps with lines, with blue countries and yellow countries, but you don't see any borders from space."

Mr Oswald said it would be great to see more British astronauts going boldly. "It's not too big a dream for a kid to be an astronaut," he said.

"Pick something you like to do and you may end up having a dream that goes beyond that.

"But if you want to be an astronaut don't become an astrophysicist if you don't like astrophysics because you want to be an astronaut. Pick something that makes you happy."

"Mind blowing"

Student Farhia said: "I thought it was mind blowing, we got to meet an astronaut in Croydon. "I want to be a surgeon. Medical doctors do go into space so it's not something I'm going to close myself off to."

Mr Oswald visited London as part of our academic and cultural enhancement programme, Harris Experience.

Henry Langdon, Harris Experience co-ordinator, said: "It was fantastic. The students saw what can happen if you follow your passion for science.

"All the steps he took were small but they ended in him going to space and I think the kids were inspired by that. He wasn't superhuman he was just like them, but with resolve and vision he reached impressive heights.

Picture and article courtesy of Croydon Advertiser.