Teens off to Nasa space camp
PLASMA propulsion rocketry, the human exploration of Mars and physiological effects on the human body in a weightless environment are on the cards for two local teens selected for a prestigious Nasa space school programme.
Alet-Mari van der Merwe of Stellenbosch and Antoni Meyer of Melkbosstrand were chosen from the South African entries to take part in the two-week camp at Nasa in Houston, Texas.
Alet-Mari and Antoni will depart for the US on July 24.
At the end of July each year, high school students aged between 16 and 18 from around the world come together at the Johnson Space Centre Houston for the annual United Space can be kindled and developed.
To date, more than 600 students from 24 countries have taken part in this programme. They live with approved host families while in Houston. The course, however, comes at a hefty price of R36 000.
Alet-Mari’s mother Renate van der Merwe said the family could not afford the fee, but with help from family and friends, they raised the funds.
“People who we don’t even know that well heard about it and contributed. We are very blessed. It is a massive opportunity for her to broaden her horizons. We hope she will take in information like a sponge and share it when she is back,” she said.
Alet-Mari, who attends Höerskool Stellenbosch, said: “It will be a wonderful experience. Pupils from 24 countries will be on the programme and I know I will benefit from the interaction.
“Nasa employs, among others, astronauts, engineers, scientists, people in the medical field and designers. We (will) attend lectures by people from all of these disciplines. All the pupils will work on a large project, with the theme ‘Manned Mission to Mars’. I might one day travel to Mars,” the 17-year-old said.
Although Alet-Mari said she wanted to be a web designer, she was keen to learn about other career opportunities in the science and technology fields.
Sixteen-year-old Antoni, from Paarl Gymnasium, said he had wanted to be an aerospace engineer since the age of nine.
“This programme will take me right inside Nasa and is an opportunity to see up close exactly what I will do one day. This is also not about being the top students at school, but about having a passion,” he said.