Student fellows from the UCF-MSTAR were invited to meet the astronauts from the crew of Space Shuttle Columbia STS-61-C. The students had the opportunity to learn about their experience of becoming astronauts and their journey.
The astronauts discussed the importance of science and engineering during the testing process of the rockets as well as during the mission. The most impactful story shared was of the Challenger disaster. This crew specifically manned the mission right before the disaster (landing only 10 days before). Those that were lost were colleagues and dear friends of the astronauts sitting on stage. They emphasized the gravity of making smart and unpressured decisions plus the vital importance of communication and listening to everyone on a team. The Challenger disaster was a learning experience for the students to understand the importance of the decisions made under pressure. The crew had a diverse group, encouraging every student to pursue their goals and dreams. The students from the UCF-MSTAR fellowship program were able to prepare and learn more about the history of the Apollo missions and the impacts that NASA made.
