St Flannan’s team impresses NASA leading lights

A PRESENTATION outlining details of a new space settlement designed by four St Flannan’s pupils was highly commended at the recent International Space Development Conference ISDC in Washington.
Al Globus, co-founder of the NASA/Ames Space Settlement Contest witnessed their presentation first hand by chance and was very impressed with their project.
While the pupils were practising their presentation in the auditorium, Mr Globus and Buzz Aldrin, the second man on the moon, arrived by chance and was treated to a private forerunner to the one they delivered for the main event.
St Flannan’s teacher, Mike Horgan, pointed out these experts wouldn’t compliment a presentation unless it was of a very high standard. He noted public relations consultant, Caimin Jones, helped the pupils prepare a professional presentation before they left for the US trip.
The pupils won second place in their senior category at the elite NASA/Ames annual space settlement design competition. The winning team includes one third-year pupil, Caitlyn Horgan and three second years, Mike O’Dea, Peter O’Connell-Stack and Natalia Abramczyk. They were parts of a larger international team made up of students from Japan, India, Ireland and the USA.
The Irish team were responsible for designing the overall space settlement structure and many of its subsystems.
They spent nine days in the US, including an extra day after severe weather conditions in Washington caused them to miss their connecting flight home.
Caitlyn Horgan described their trip to White House as a “jaw-dropping experience”.
“Everyone was so excited about visiting the White House, it is such a large piece of American history and we got a chance to visit this historic building,” she said.
She described the conference as “amazing” having met people from all around the world from Japan, India, Bulgaria and Romania.
Peter O’Connell-Stack recalled they also had the opportunity at the conference to present their project to other students, who provided constructive criticism and ideas for future development.
He explained, these students, who also competed in the competition, helped them take their ideas and take them even further in the future.
“There were two grand prize winners. One was named Aura. It was unique, it was something we had never seen before and we have taken ideas from it. We will remember for next year when we are trying to design something,” he said.
Caitlyn recalled it was similar to their project as they also designed a space settlement where inhabitants had to live and be self-sufficient in space.
The pupils met with NASA administrator, General Charles Boden, who was abroad Apollo Six, and Mr Aldrin, who told them his plans and ideas for the future that will possible take place in their lifetime.
Mr Aldrin comes to the conference most years to try and help students broaden their knowledge about the subject even more.
They felt it was a wonderful experience to meet and get the opportunity to discuss science with NASA and space experts.
Mike Horgan, described Mr Aldrin, who is in his 70s, as an amazing man, who is still on the board of the United States Space Society, which organises the conference.
Mr Horgan, who is very familiar with the NASA space settlement design competition, having worked in the United States for 10 years, said, “We might have some budding astronauts from St Flannan’s yet. The conference was a life-changing experience and helps pupils to develop a great interest in science, engineering and astrophysics. It will affect the subjects they choose for their Leaving Certificate.
He recalled when St Flannan’s pupils went to their first conference three years ago, they weren’t really taken seriously.
However, when the third group of pupils arrived this year, which were different, apart from Caitlyn, who has been there for three years. They were taken far more seriously and the expectation of their project was much higher.
“The first year, they giggled a bit because they had their own stereotypical view of Ireland with the thatched cottage and leprachauns. By year three, we were accepted as being part of the competition and they now expect Ireland to have a very good project every year,” he said.
He said three of the pupils are entering their Junior Certificate this year and are still considering if they will have the time to devote to another project when they go back to St Flannan’s in September.