This Twitter discussion between fourth graders from Karachi and NASA is the best thing on the internet!
Over 2,000 people retweeted the post until the questions eventually reached the NASA astronauts and scientists.
A teacher from The Cornerstone School in Karachi took to Twitter and posted some space-related questions that her fourth-graders had asked the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) scientists and astronauts. The teacher tagged the space agency, and prominent astronauts’ official Twitter handles in the tweet.
These fourth graders have some questions for you.@NASA @Space_Station @NASAEarth @NASA_Johnson @NASA_Astronauts @NASAKennedy @MarkRober @DestinSandlin @TheSpaceGal @neiltyson
(Please share) pic.twitter.com/TiV0WCD1vG
— Aimun (@bluemagicboxes) October 14, 2020
Over 2,000 people retweeted the post until the questions eventually reached the NASA astronauts and scientists. To her surprise, NASA responded to the queries and invited the kids to be their guests after the pandemic!
Emily Calandrelli, an American science communicator and the host of Xploration Outer Space, replied to the tweet and said:
Alisha – All different types! Some popular rockets that you’ll see will use a fuel + an oxidizer. For example, something called RP-1 and then liquid oxygen. These are combined together and then *ignited* and burned to create a big (controlled) explosion that moves the rocket! 🚀
— Emily Calandrelli (@TheSpaceGal) October 14, 2020
Minahil – NASA needs all types of people for their missions! Mostly scientists and engineers (so studying a STEM degree is a good idea!) but also IT people, human resources specialists, accountants, technicians, writers, etc! But remember you will probably need to be a US citizen
— Emily Calandrelli (@TheSpaceGal) October 14, 2020
Haniyah -It’s definitely possible!! The same physics and chemistry that creates diamonds here on Earth (putting Carbon under super high heat/pressure) exists on planets like Jupiter, so some scientists hypothesize that it’s raining diamonds there! Wouldn’t it be fun to see that?!
— Emily Calandrelli (@TheSpaceGal) October 14, 2020
Mahrukh – I hear it’s like riding a roller coaster! I rode one with Shuttle Astronaut Jon McBride who explained that the same gravitational forces you feel on a Shuttle launch can be felt by riding a roller coaster! Highest is about 3-g, which feels like 3 times your weight! pic.twitter.com/YdcyzzxJFA
— Emily Calandrelli (@TheSpaceGal) October 14, 2020
Anabiya – NASA is discovering new things all the time (about the universe, our solar system, and our own bodies!), but in my opinion their best work is on our own planet. NASA’s Earth Observing System studies the Earth and shows us how climate change is affecting our planet.
— Emily Calandrelli (@TheSpaceGal) October 14, 2020
Rayyan – I’m not an Astronaut (and I don’t work at NASA!) so you may want to ask someone else 😉 But I would say that of course spaceflight is dangerous, so NASA trains astronauts and their team back on Earth for every possible scenario. They are prepared for anything!
— Emily Calandrelli (@TheSpaceGal) October 14, 2020
These were all such great questions Alisha, Minahil, Haniyah, Mahrukh, Anabiya, and Rayyan! Stay curious and keep exploring 🙂
— Emily Calandrelli (@TheSpaceGal) October 14, 2020
The Canadian astronaut, Chris Hadfield, also replied and said:
Mahrukh – I flew in the Space Shuttle twice. You feel violently shaken, squished, super-focused, excited and lucky. https://t.co/156xQxW3J3
— Chris Hadfield (@Cmdr_Hadfield) October 14, 2020
Overwhelmed with happiness, the teacher appreciated the DLR German Aerospace Center’s effort:
This is the best thing to happen to me. And hopefully to Rayyan! https://t.co/mpg27RPMxW
— Aimun (@bluemagicboxes) October 14, 2020
Many people also appreciated NASA’s gesture and suggested that the Federal Science Minister, Fawad Chaudhry, become involved and help other children receive answers to their questions.
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