Srajan Singh's space odyssey

The sky is no longer the limit for NASA International Space Camp winner

shuttle simulator, having a go at the gravity machine, and tbe scuba tank which replicates working in micro-gravitational situations. "All of that is going to be just fantastic and I'm really looking forward to jc."

This is just tl1e first step in what Srajao hopes will be the start of a journey towards realising a childhood dream, bur he knows it's a tough road al1ead A lthough NASA is associated wirh space e.'<p loration more d1an anything else, there are o f course only very few astronauts in rhe organisation - and Srajan is determined to be part of the latter group.

Space is one of the few things that makes us wonder and dream as both children and adults. The moon and the sun a re so intangib le; yet so tangible. The mystery of the night sky, the wondrous event of a shooting scar, and the desire to experience weightlessness - every one o f us is fascinated by these thoughts, and yet such an incredibl y small number of people have dared to dream of taking them any further Srajan Singh is one of those few. Recently, the Year 11 student from Scone Grammar School was one of just two students in Australia selected for a prestigious space camp conducted b y NASA at the U.S. Space and Rocket Centre in Huotsville, A labama this month, and he hopes it is just tl1e start of a bigge r dream.

16 JULY 2013

The NASA International Space Camp was established in "I 990, and invites two smdents and one educator from 35 counr.ries around the world to represent their country and participate in a comprehensive education program exposing the students to various demonstrations, sinmlations, activities and projects at the Space Cent.re in Humsville The camp is said to be both academically and physically challenging, with students given a taste of the intense training astronauts go through.

Srajan has grown up in towns s uch as Parkes and Narrabri, and it's clear his outback NSW lifestyle has had a big part to play in his interest in space. " Botl1 of [Parkes and Narrabri] have large radi o telescopes And especially when I was in Narrabri, we had friends who worked as astrophysicists for CSIRO. So rhere were times when they would take us to have a look around the main comrol for the array and deep in d1e belly of the telescope itsel f. As a 7 yea r old at tbe time - its definitely a motivator!"

More recentl y, Srajan has taken a particular interest in his science and maths subjects at schoo l - a must- have for any buddi ng NASA astronaut. He not only achieved a resul t in the top band of HSC Extensio n 1 Matl1s in year 10, bm will be taking oo the HSC Extension 2 Exan1 chi s year - in ye ar I l. Bue chat's just rhe tip of the iceberg "I really love music as well and it's a huge passion of mine. 1 enjoy reading up on and watdting documentaries about sp ace; but more generally science and new discoveries. Recently I've gotte n into a new series of books and documentaries called the Fabric of the Cosmos - it's worth looking up!" Given astronauts are required to be incredibly fit, it's a good thing Srnjan loves hi s sport, too - including tennis, cricket, swimming, archer y and hockey. He credits his school for providing the support he needed to manage his busy schedule

Srajan applied for d1e e.xciting camp through the Australian Schobrships Group, which held a competition for its stL1den ts aged l 6- 18 years old. After co nsidering rheir academic results, achievements, career aspi rations, social and community participants, the ASG decided on two students - Srajan and J-\jmee Parson s from Nowrn Christian School, SW - to travel with the winner of its National Excellence in Teaching Awards (NEiTA) 2013 lnternational Space Camp Award, Sophie Fenton of Ballarat Grammar in Victoria. ASG CEO John Velegrinis said of the pair: "Srajan and Aimee both have a passion and great interest in space. They have achieved exceptional academic results an d are bod1 invo lved in a number of extracurricular activ ities. I knmv they will be great ambassadors for A ustralia and ASG at the Space Camp, and we wish d1em all the best."

At the camp, Srajan will spend a week going through all kinds of experiences that only a lucl--1' few have been able to enjoy - including tl1e same training undergone by the NASA astronauts who Srajan wants co join some day. Srajan looks forward co Ayi11g rhe space www in dia n lin k.com au

He hopes that his time at the Space Camp will. no t only be enjoyable, bm lead to imporcam conn ections and experience in reaching his goal. "My dream really has been to see the Eard1 from space and to know that I'm acn1al1y playing a par t in our progress to a new funrre The International Space Station is just a way for me to achieve d1at goal. To reach tl1ere, 1'11 have to achieve some sort of sc ience degree and then apply to NASA. Having been co rhe lnternarional Space Camp will certainl y .increase my chances of being accepted. Once in NASA, who knows, maybe m y calling will be as a ground scientist; but nothing beats the ISS -it's a whole different ball game."

His parents, Anuradha Singh and Dr Sanjay Verma, are naturally very proud and suppor tive of Srajan's achievements. Anuradha took d1e phone call that carried rhe great news, and Srajan labels it as "One of the happiest moments in my life! My parents would have loved co come, bur the centre has strict rules that no one other than the delegates of the 35 invited couna-ies can come inso unformnately they can't."

Srajan's favourite moment in space e.xploration history is d1e launch of d1e space probe Pioneer 10, which was rhe first manmade object to reach escape velocity from the solar system , taking it past d1e astero id belt, and becoming, as Srajan puts it, "Our beaco n to d1e rest of the universe, to let everyone know ,ve're here mo!"

To any smdents unsure abont what their future holds, Srajan's advice is simple. " Trying to balance hobbies and studies is hard, but it's doable My advice is do what y0L1'll enjoy and put your heart into it. Then the sky is d1 e limit!"