What Happens At NASA Space Camp? 16-YO Aspiring Astrophysicist Shares

Do you remember the first book that left a deep impact on you? Some books leave an indelible impact on our minds, staying in our hearts forever. For some, books also lead to their passions.
Such was the case for Geet. As a five-year-old, she remembers visiting a book fair with her parents where they got her a book about space exploration. This kicked off her interest in space which was supplemented by many more books on the subject. 
The book led to a singular goal. “I wanted to be an astronaut,” shares Geet. 
As she entered class 7 and her interest in Physics and the three-dimensional realm deepended, she buried herself in resources and competitions that could help her achieve this goal. Reading about astronauts and astrophysicists, she found an idol in Kate Rubins, a NASA astronaut was the first person to sequence DNA in space.
Looking for ways to help her career, the now 16-year-old Delhi resident found that Rubins, a microbiologist, had been to a space camp in NASA. Armed with this information, she applied and got into NASA’s Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama, in June 2024, with a full scholarship provided by the Space Camp Foundation.
This 6-day camp in the US Space and Rocket Center exposed attendees to a variety of astronaut training exercises, engineering challenges and team-building activities, culminating in an extended-duration simulated space mission, according to their official website.
The camp reinforced the teenager’s passion for space exploration and cemented her desire to become an astrophysicist.
A stepping stone to a career in space
Geet started looking for opportunities to pursue her dream when she was in middle school.

Geet participated in the NASA Space Camp
“I became serious about pursuing aerospace as a career after Class 7. Since there weren’t many opportunities around me, I was constantly on the lookout for competitions. I would pore over encyclopaedias and books,” Geet shares with The Better India, before eventually finding out about Rubins’ journey.
The space camp programmes are divided according to age groups, starting from nine years of age. Geet applied for the ‘Advanced Space Academy’ meant for students who are between the ages of 15-18. 
This programme aims to help students explore ‘college and career preparation through an immersive experience in science, engineering, technology and maths’, states the website. 
The camp will train you like an astronaut, send you on Mars missions, flight simulators, scuba diving, building rockets and much more! It’s a dream come true for aspiring astronauts, astrophysicists and anyone interested in this field of work.

Geet applied to the programme at the end of 2022 for the June 2024 expedition. Since the programme cost was prohibitive, she applied for a full-tuition scholarship, which only five students receive per programme, according to her. 
Applications open almost a year prior, usually in fall. Currently, applications are open for programmes being held from May-August 2025. 
“You have to send in essays, scientific hypotheses and any engineering working models that you’ve worked on. The application process for a scholarship is very rigorous. You have to highlight your achievements, interest in a space career and lay down your future goals,” states Geet. 
Impressed by her application, she received a full-tuition scholarship. However, travel and accommodation has to be self-funded. 
The aspiring astrophysicist lived her dream in the week starting from June 20. Here’s what all she did, and what you can expect at the space camp.

An F15 aircraft simulator

You can fly an F15 aircraft simulator at the camp. This is the third most accurate simulator, says Geet.

A multi-axis trainer chair

Train like an astronaut to gain control over a spacecraft in the Multi-Axis Trainer chair (MAT). It simulates a tumble-spin and helps students get an idea of what it would be like to be in space!

A micogravity simulator

Used by Apollo astronauts to practise moon-walking, this ⅙ th chair gives a sensation of the moon’s gravitational pull, which is 1/6th of the force felt on Earth

Space mission one

Students get to work on three space missions, the first of which was a Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) mission. Here, Geet is training as the Extra Vehicular Activity officer (EVA) in the Mission Operations Control room (MOCR). 

Space mission two

Geet was the mission specialist 2 in the second LEO mission. Here, she is monitoring EVAs from the Space Transportation System (STS). 

Geet, the mission specialist!

Here, Geet is changing the satellite’s panels and conducting EVA in mission two.

Changing the satellite’s locks

Here, Geet, the mission specialist 2, is changing the satellite’s locks. 

Flight engineer Geet

In the third mission, Geet took on the role of a flight engineer in the three-hour long EDM mission. Here, along with another flight engineer, she was in charge of conducting EVA and maintaining Ouranos (the station on Mars’ moon, Phobos).  
Besides this, students also get to meet rocket scientists and astronauts who share their life stories and what it takes to become like them. 
“The highlight was meeting astronaut Chris Sembroski. He shared what he did to reach here and told us the different paths we could take to reach our goals,” shares Geet.
They also participated in debates, team building activities, made rockets, leadership activities, and much more.
“It has reinforced my passion for space exploration. I have a clear vision of my academic and career goals,” says the Class 11 student at 21K school.
She also won the Right Stuff award, given to an outstanding camper who excels not only in skills and tasks but also embodies an exceptional attitude, team spirit, and leadership.
She aims to pursue a Bachelors degree in astrophysics at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) or Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) or at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).Here’s how you could also enrol in the space camp. 
Edited by Padmashree Pande, Images Courtesy: Geet.