Students from Assam Rifles Public School and Army School in Shillong on Wednesday. Picture by UB Photos

Shillong, Oct. 19: His trip to Nasa’s Space Camp in the US has left 11-year-old Tehskhemlang Rynjah starry eyed though he arrived home two days ago.

Rynjah was the youngest of the 15 students who underwent an eight-day training experience at the Space Camp from October 9.

Rynjah and other team members told reporters today that it was a unique experience to be associated with Nasa and to undergo space science activities.

“We did not want to come back after we got both practical and theoretical training at the Space Camp, including the simulated space shuttle missions,” said Rynjah, a Class VI student of Assam Rifles Public School here.

He also added that he was not scared to undergo any space-related training.

The students from Assam Rifles Public School and Army School, Shillongsuccessfully attended the training organised at the US Space and Rocket Center, Huntsville, Alabama. A teacher from Assam Rifles Public School, P.P. Jena, accompanied the students to the US.

The US Space and Rocket Center is the official visitor’s information centre for Nasa’s Marshal Space Flight Center.

Tushar Sharma, a student of Army School, said the training on how to walk on the moon with reducing gravity was a unique experience.

There was also a briefing on rocket launching and how to handle space shuttles, Sharma said, adding the students were also asked to do some engineering work related to space shuttles.

Lenong Lego, a student from Assam Rifles Public School, said the trip helped the students to inculcate team work and leadership qualities.

The programme included workshops on ways to overcome fear of height and mountain climbing and helped in personal growth, he added.

The students were briefed on applied mathematics, scientific and technological principles and concepts, which normally they study in schools. P.K. Rajora, principal of Assam Rifles Public School, said the school had sent 13 students to the US and the others were from Army School.

He said the students also received certificates after completion of the course on space-related training.

The realistic and interactive space camp training, including shuttle mission, rocketry and many other simulators in a safe and encouraging environment has helped the students, he said.

“The programme also helped the students to strengthen their inter-personal skills such as power of reasoning, problem-solving ability, besides inculcating leadership qualities,” he added.

General staff officer Maj. Nilesh Ingle, who is also the education officer, headquarters, director-general of Assam Rifles, here said the intention of sending the students abroad was to make them realise that the sky is not the limit.

“We will also inspire the students to join the Indian armed forces,” he added.

As the expenditure of over Rs 2 lakh per student was borne by the parents, the Assam Rifles official said they would seek assistance from the North Eastern Council and other agencies, including the state governments in the Northeast to sponsor poor meritorious students for the Camp.

Brij Mohan Sood, Space Camp ambassador to India, promised to provide Rs 1 lakh to sponsor a poor meritorious student for the training during the next trip.

Lina Roy, the general manager of the Space Camp, said this was for the first time a team of students from the Northeast underwent training at the Camp.