Rolf Brandt had to change his approach today.
The Swiss Space Systems representative was busy talking the business of their satellite launching space shuttle technology and their zero gravity flights during Industry Day, which was the first event during YYB North Bay Space Week which began Thursday.
This morning, Brandt’s role was talking space with North Bay area students. His booth was one of a number of Education Day events in the 22 Wing Gymnasium at CFB North Bay that included mini planetariums, robotics and astronomy displays.
“A business person obviously asks more the technical questions or financial questions and from the kids its more the excitement questions, they think it’s cool that you can go into outer space and can you fly to the moon or how far do you fly so it’s more about the excitement rather than the technical aspects but I have got to say there are some keen kids here they want to know the technical details, what’s the weight, what’s the size, how high to you fly, what rocket engine to you use all that kind of stuff so its amazing the questions you get,” said Brandt.
Ten-year-old Aimee Smart was impressed.
“It’s pretty interesting, they did an amazing job of setting up the displays and it’s really cool learning about all the missions and stuff, and the engines, the parts that are in the engines,” said Smart, who was one of about 1,000 students that attended Education Day at CFB North Bay.
“I think I have to bring my sister and my Mom and Dad here to show them just so they can see the amazing things about space.”
Space Week Co-Chair George Burton believes including the youth in Space Week is very important.
“We are looking forward to showing them some aspects of space with the interactive displays that they are going to have with the planetarium and really build upon the science and technology that we need to instil in our youth so that the Canadian industry continues to flourish and grow because it is an area that will continue to grow over the next decade,” said Burton.
The Space Week festivities will conclude on Saturday with Community Day which will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the CFB North Bay Recreation Centre Gym. Then on Saturday night Canadian Astronaut Chris Hadfield will be doing a presentation at the Capitol Centre.
