Trip to Space

Updated on: Monday, July 18, 2011

Prachi Agarwal, a Class XII student of Shri Shikshayatan School, Kolkata, was a part of a group of 10 students, five from India and five from Pakistan, who travelled to the NASA Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama, to take part in a week-long programme in June.

“The Space Camp was created by NASA in 1982 to help promote science. Later it turned international, and till date, 500,000 people from around the world have been a part of it,” informed Scott E Hartmann, deputy director, American Centre, Kolkata.

Prachi talked about her experience in an interactive session with students from city schools at the American Centre, Kolkata, on July 13. Schools like Gokhale, La Martiniere for Boys’, Birla High School for Boys’, Calcutta International School, Heritage School, South City School, St James’ School, Mahadevi Birla Girls’ High School and Shri Shikshayatan School were actively represented at the event.

A presentation on her life at the space camp was aired by Prachi to give students an idea about her memorable experience.

After a long and tiring journey, the 10 students were received by a lively woman who serenaded them all along the rest of the way to the space camp, and her mellifluous songs cured them of their exhaustion. Hillary Clinton welcomed them through a video call, which added to their soaring spirits. Prachi shared the video in which the US secretary of state asked the students to “challenge themselves, forge lasting friendships and also, have fun”.

Prachi talked of her rock climbing and pole climbing activities, which had her “shivering in fear” and also acknowledged the support of her team members who tried to encourage her.

She fondly recalled the “pyjama parties” that she and the other girls in the team had, at night in the dormitory. “If you ever head to the US, do carry your own food,” she advises for vegetarians like herself.

Trip to Space

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