New Delhi, Feb 27 – Former NASA astronaut Mike Massimino engaged with students at a PM SHRI Kendriya Vidyalaya in the capital, sharing his journey from being inspired by a movie to becoming an astronaut and his experiences in space.
During the interactive session, Massimino lauded India's Chandrayaan-3 mission, describing it as a major achievement for India and the entire global space community. He highlighted the challenges of landing on the Moon's South Pole and emphasized how such missions could unlock crucial insights into water sources—an essential factor for future space habitation. He also underscored the importance of international collaboration in advancing space exploration.
Massimino shared anecdotes about his career, including how a movie about seven astronauts motivated him to pursue spaceflight. He engaged students with discussions about life in zero gravity, describing the food astronauts consume in space, sleeping arrangements, and working conditions aboard spacecraft.
The role of artificial intelligence (AI) in space exploration was another key topic of interest. Addressing students' queries, Massimino explained that AI transforms space travel by making missions more efficient, cost-effective, and safer. He also provided guidance on the key subjects and skills needed for students aspiring to become astronauts, highlighting the relevance of soil sciences and marine biology in space research.
Students were inquisitive about the most challenging project he worked on at NASA and the feasibility of human habitation on Mars. Massimino responded that while living on the Moon may become a reality soon, settling on Mars remains a long-term goal due to significant technological hurdles.
Currently, Massimino is a professor of mechanical engineering at Columbia University and serves as a senior advisor for space programs at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Columbia University and a Master of Science and PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
The interaction left students inspired and eager to explore careers in space exploration, making the session a memorable experience.