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"It's possible!" exclaimed six kids in unison. They had just returned after fulfilling what for millions of children, and adults too, across the world is only a dream.
And the icing on their cake was winning a competition beating five teams.
"Moonwalking!" The four nine-year-olds and two a year older than them had taken a three-day space training programme, or "moonwalking" in the US.
And the expanse of of JW Marriott Hotel's conference room in Admiralty yesterday still seemed like outer space to them. As had been the Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama.
The kids, accomapnied by one of their parents, underwent various practical and inspirational training exercises.
They experienced three types of "moonwalks" through a simulator called "1/6 Gravity Chair" that imitated the moon's gravitational pull, which is 1/6th that on earth.
"Mission Training" helped them play different roles, such as that of a commander and space specialists.
Most people in the world can only wonder how real astronauts exercise in space. But our six Hong Kong "astronauts" actually got a taste of that through the "Multi-axis trainer" and "Five degree of freedom". They were trained to operate different apparatus under "weightless status" in space.
As if all that was not enough, they got to make and launch their own model rockets, too.
In winning the "Mission Patch and Station Design Competition", the Hong Kong team beat five US teams. They designed the "Super Secret Space Station" (and its patch) that would solve the problems faced by astronauts on space ships. The six Hong Kong kids were part of a 12-member design team with the most imaginative ideas. For example, they had a greenhouse in the station that could grow vegetables, plants and trees from where the astronauts could get their daily supply of food.
The space camp may have been an experience of a lifetime but getting there was indeed a long and tough journey. The six had competed with more than 2,000 other applicants to join the MassMutual Junior Space Camp. Sponsored and organized by MassMutual Asia, the camp was aimed at enhancing children's knowledge about the history of space technology and its development.
All the applicants had to submit a creative project with the topic of "If I can travel in space - It is possible". The 50 most creative and imaginative kids were then chosen to attend a two-day training camp.
And then began the toughest part. One-third, or 17, of the fittest were picked for an intense and rigorous interview. And again, only one-third, or six, made the final cut.
The most obvious question the kids were asked at JW Marriott was how they felt. All of them agreed that the space camp had increased their knowledge of space, astronomy and related subjects.
One of the "junior astronauts" Brian Yim, who wants to study rocket science, said: "I have learnt more about rockets and spaceships."
The mother of the 9-year-old boy added: "Apart from the knowledge about space, I think Brian has learnt the way to communicate and co-operate with others."
Another "junior astronaut" Jason Yung, 10, said that at first he was afraid going through the "Multi-axis trainer" at first. "I thought it would make me feel sick and I told the instructor that I didn't want to try that."
But his father encouraged him to go ahead, saying it was a once-in-a-life chance. "I thought daddy was right so finally I took part in it," Yung said. "And I found that it was a great fun! I even wanted to have a second try. That incident has boosted my self-confidence because I have overcome a difficulty."
His initial wish was to become a lawyer. But no more. He has changed his mind for good. "After joining the space camp, I want to be an astronaut," Yung said with conviction.
(China Daily August 30, 2005)
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