A Maiden Experience for the Young ICSKians – An Unforgettable Trip to NASA

”For the eyes of the world now look into space,
To the moon and to the planets beyond,
And we have vowed that we shall not see it governed by a hostile flag of conquest,
But by a banner of freedom and peace.”
-John F. Kennedy

The youngsters at ICSK were bestowed with a golden chance to travel to the United States of America. The tour coordinator Mr. Jacob George along with teachers Mrs. Saritha Sasikumar and Mrs. Shehnaz Gujral, under the guidance of the Official Tour Manager of Ceasars Int’l, Mr. Shibu, made their maiden journey to USA on 23rd October 2018. There were a total of 42 students, each one thrilled at the prospect of visiting NASA and various other destinations in America.
On day 1, the team arrived in Orlando, where they received a warm welcome from the airport and hotel crew. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was initiated in July 29th 1958, under the supervision of the government of the United States of America.
From day 2 to day 4, the team was given a chance to visit NASA, where the students experienced, imagined and interacted through brand-new immersive simulators in the new Astronaut Training Experience Centre, tours of Kennedy Space Centre Visitor Complex, where they also had a chance to prove their talents in solving everyday challenges faced by astronauts. The camp activities provided the students with an environment to train as the next generation of space explorers in the all-new Astronaut Training Experience. The students also experienced walking and driving on Mars through virtual and motion simulation, and also conducted a spacewalk in a microgravity experience. The students had a chance to live and work on Mars for the day in Mars Base1. They also had a chance to work together to solve base operations emergencies, program robots to optimize solar energy, and sustain life in the Botany Lab. Tour exhibits and attractions throughout the visitor complex enchanted the already excited crew. The team encountered everyday challenges of astronauts and engineers through hands-on activities and experiments.
They also got to hear real-life stories from a veteran NASA astronaut. Samson Mammen Samuel scored a 100% for communication and cartography skills. He also scored a 100% for Mars rover.
On day 5, the ICSK team visited the Disney world, where they enjoyed lunch and dinner at the park. The students were exhilarated as they had tremendous fun getting on various thrilling rides like the Transformers 3D Ride and the Flight of the Hippogriff. The students were amazed and thrilled as they got a real-life experience of what they had only seen in a TV screen.
On day 6, the crew toured on the Island of Adventures. It was an amazing experience for the students, where super heroes, beasts and magical creatures stood before them. They also witnessed the most colossal ape to ever walk on earth. They also visited the Universal Studios, where they saw and experienced the magic of movie-making.
The Universal Studios located in Florida, is a theme park and production studio opened on June 7, 1990. It is estimated to be ranking as the sixth most attended theme park in the United States, as well as the ninth most attended theme park worldwide.
Every evening, all the students and the chaperones would gather in the lobby of the hotel for what they called a “cultural programme”, where few children were assigned the duties of briefing upon the day, singing and other sorts of entertainment programmes. This was held for an hour everyday.
The seventh day marked their departure. The team halted for a few hours in Miami, during which they enjoyed the Miami airport and also did their last bit of American shopping.
The team reached back to Kuwait on 30th October at 2035 hours after completing their maiden voyage to NASA.

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