PLAIN CITY, Ohio (WCMH) — All eyes have been on space as Artemis II astronauts completed their mission and safely returned home. Amid all the excitement, students in Jonathan Alder Local School District got to hear from a former NASA astronaut.
Ohioan Dr. Don Thomas spent 20 years with NASA and flew on four space shuttle missions. The former astronaut spoke with students and families at Jonathan Alder’s annual ‘Space Day’ event. Thomas talked about his experience, as well as the Artemis II mission and what it means for the future of space exploration.
“I was more than just a little bit envious of that crew, because I would have loved to have been on that flight with them,” Thomas said. “They generated a lot of excitement with the adults and our students.”
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The Artemis II mission set the record for the farthest distance humans have traveled from Earth. Thomas says he hopes it excites the next generation to reach new heights.
“I’m too old to go to Mars, but I want to see us get to Mars,” Thomas said. “The astronauts going to Mars are the generation that we have today here right here.”
Thomas says he remembers being a kindergartener in Cleveland when he watched the first American launch into space, which solidified his goal to become an astronaut. He says 25 NASA astronauts are from Ohio, and he wants the kids to know they could do the same.
“For me to come back and look at the young students, look them in the eye and challenge them, ‘hey, we need astronauts for going to Mars,’” Thomas said. “I’m just thankful to be back here. I travel all over the world. There’s no place like Ohio.”
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Emily Byers, the director of technology and innovation at Jonathan Alder Local School District, says they are grateful to have Thomas at their event.
“What he is sharing can inspire our students,” Byers said. “Hopefully, someday we’ll have an astronaut coming from Alder.”
This is the district’s third year hosting the event in collaboration with Amazon. Students also did several hands-on space-related activities.
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