Space Day 2004
By Justin Houchin
May 5, 2004 (Washington, DC)
Space Day is an international grass roots educational initiative dedicated to promoting the extraordinary achievements, benefits and opportunities in the exploration and use of space. The ultimate goal is to promote math, science, technology and engineering education by nurturing young peoples' enthusiasm for the wonders of the universe and inspiring them to continue the stellar work of today's space explorers.
Events are held around the world throughout the year with the main event being held every year on the first Thursday in May. This year the main event was held at the Smithsonian Museum's new Stephen F. Udvar-Hazy Space Museum in Washington, DC and featured such prominent guest speakers as former Senator and astronaut, John Glenn, NASA Chief Administrator, Sean O’Keefe and NASA's 2004 astronaut class.
Throughout the year students and teachers work on solving certain problems of space or planetary exploration and present their solutions in a display that is judged by a panel of judges. Winners are invited to the main Space Day event in Washington, DC. This year there were over 1600 schoolchildren, teachers, parents and press in attendance.
I was invited to speak and gave a three-minute speech that opened the event! After that, a short Space Day video was played that also featured my jet flying experience. Earlier this year I became the youngest person to fly a military jet at the National Test Pilot School in Mojave California when I was 17. The jet flight was a part of my training to become the First Teenager in Space. “First Teenager in Space” is a program sponsored by the Traveling Space Museum, Inc. – a nonprofit space education organization based in Los Angeles.
Prior to my opening speech, I got to meet and mingle with the VIPs backstage. I met one of my heroes, Senator John Glenn along with NASA's Chief Administrator, Sean O’Keefe; the former CEO of Lockheed-Martin, Vance Coffman; Astronaut, Leland Melvin; Astronaut, Barbara Morgan; Astronaut, Brian Duffy; General John Dailey; and many others.
After the speeches, the VIPs headed to another wing of the Museum to pose for pictures in front of the Space Shuttle Enterprise. I got to pose with NASA's new astronaut class. That was awesome.
After that, I toured the exhibits of the winning student teams. Before the day was through, I visited all 18 exhibits, signed autographs and had my picture taken with each of the teams. The kids had come up with some amazing ideas. I was very impressed. Space Day had an incredible effect on the lives of these kids. I think a lot of the scientists, engineers and astronauts of the future that were there that day. I am extremely lucky to have taken part in such an amazing and inspirational event. I would like to send my warmest thanks to the organizers of Space Day and my dear friend, Ivor Dawson, Founder of the Traveling Space Museum, for making all this possible.
Sean O’Keefe
