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    • My Experience at the Honeywell Leadership Challenge Academy

    This year I was invited back to the US Space and Rocket Centre as an ambassador at the Honeywell Leadership Challenge Academy. As an ambassador, I got to know all the 130 participants from around the world, sharing my own experiences from last year, encouraging them to give their best in the activities and to tackle new challenges.

    My favourite part of the week was being able to experience the Underwater Astronaut Trainer. This is used by astronauts as training underwater, as it is as close as it gets to simulating weightlessness on Earth.

    After learning how to use the scuba gear needed to dive in the tank, I climbed down to the bottom of the 7-metre tank where, because of the pressure of the water above, you essentially feel weightless. It's a strange sensation when there is almost no gravity weighing you down. I could jump really high with minimal exertion, lift heavy weights with no effort, and my favourite part of the session was playing basketball using bowling balls!

    Throughout the week I got the chance to meet NASA rocket scientists and listen to them discuss the history of space travel and exploration and their roles working on spacecraft and missions. I also went on the flight simulators at the aviation centre in the USSRC and learnt how to dogfight using missiles, bombs and guns.  As an aspiring aerospace engineer, a highlight of my week was being able to meet retired astronaut Robert Gibson. Being able to hear about his story of how he first entered the aviation world, and how his career progressed from getting his aeronautical degree to joining the military, including his time in the Navy Fighter Weapons School (The modern day TOP GUN!) and finally becoming a NASA astronaut and flying 5 missions to space.

    This year I was excited to meet people from all around the world, from Aboriginals from Australia to Puerto Rico, learning about their cultures and languages. It was fascinating to hear about the places where people come from and make lifelong friendships.

    In the future, I hope to work in the aerospace industry and make a contribution to space exploration. My experience at the Honeywell Leadership Challenge Academy has taught me so much about space, given me the chance to experience how astronauts train for space missions and developed my communication and leadership skills. Having seen the Saturn I rocket in person and the launch of Artemis II in the next few years, I am excited to take the next steps to being part of such a thrilling industry.

    Samragee - Year 13