Yes, it is rocket science. But, it is within reach, if parents shell out Rs 2.5 lakh to send a child to NASA in the US.
Twenty-six students of Ranchi's posh ICSE cradles St Thomas School and St Xavier's School left for a 10-day educational tour to the US, NASA at Kennedy Space Centre in Orlando being the star attraction.
On Monday, the 26 children from Classes VI to IX - 18 from St Thomas and eight from St Xavier's - as well as three teachers accompanying them got a warm send-off at Birsa Munda Airport from parents, relatives and principals.
The children, who were excited about reaching Orlando on September 29, said they just couldn't wait to see a spacecraft.
"I want to know how a space shuttle is made," said St Xavier's eighth grader Krish Jaiswal, who confessed to reading up a lot about space and rockets.
Raj Anand, Krish's immediate senior in Class IX, St Xavier's, said he was visiting Orlando for the second time.
"When I was in Class VI, I was a part of the NASA educational camp, but then I was a kid and was simply starry-eyed about stuff like rockets. This time, I want to explore more as a mature student who aspires to become an astronaut," said the teen, sounding wiser than his years.
For St Xavier's, this is the fourth consecutive year starting 2012 that they are sending their students to NASA. But, as St Thomas is making its debut, its students are all agog over what awaits them.
"We used to hear about students of other city schools like St Xavier's and Sapphire International School visiting NASA. But, finally thanks to our school principal Moni Mathew sir, we have realised this cherished dream too," said Vaishno Gadodia of Class VI, St Thomas School.
"It's all about grooming our kids to become global citizens and develop a scientific temper," grinned St Xavier's principal Father Ajit Xess at the airport. His counterpart at St Thomas, Father Moni Mathew added: "In big cities like Mumbai and Delhi, students visiting NASA on educational tours has became something of a craze that's increasing every year. In Ranchi too, this trend is catching up."
In or near Orlando, the kids will visit the Astronauts Hall of Fame, Kennedy Space Centre, Magic Kingdom and Universal Studios.
But, the rest of their pit stops are also no less interesting. They will visit Niagara Falls and take the fabled Maid of the Mist steamboat ride, and explore its underworld in the Cave of the Winds elevator trip deep into its gorge to literally soak up the experience.
The lucky students will also visit the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC and Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building in New York.
On October 8, students along with teachers will leave New York for Delhi via Abu Dhabi. They are likely to reach Ranchi on October 10.
Which exposure trip have you sent your kids to recently? Tell ttkhand@abpmail.com
