’Plain pupil speaks to astronaut in space

West End Primary pupil Rayaan Davids, 13, received the opportunity of a lifetime recently when he got to pose questions to an astronaut in space during the 32nd International Astronomical Union General Assembly 2024, held in Cape Town earlier this month.

Astronomers from around the globe gather every three years at the assembly to further research, delve into challenges in astronomy, and cultivate collaboration. It was the first time in its over 100-year history that the assembly was held in Africa.

Rayaan, an aspiring astrobiologist from New Woodlands, was among several Cape Town pupils who posed questions to American astronaut Sunita Williams during a live radio transmission from the Cape Town International Convention Centre to the astronaut aboard the International Space Station.

He first asked Ms Williams how she copes with the physical challenges of long-duration space flights, to which she replied: “Being in space, your body changes, adapts and actually if we didn’t do anything, we would lose bone density and muscle mass. We have physical equipment up here, a bicycle, a treadmill and a weight to lift weights using the force of vacuum so that way we can focus on the areas that we use, which is our hips and our ankles.”

For his second question, Rayaan asked Ms Williams what the most breathtaking moment was that she experienced in space, to which she replied seeing the aurora lights.

Ms Williams and astronaut Barry Willmore launched into space in June for what was meant to be an eight-day mission. However, technical issues on their spacecraft have led to an eight-month delay in their return. The two are now scheduled to return to Earth in February 2025.

The Grade 7 pupil said his recent interactions with Ms Williams and meeting former astronaut Mae Jemison, who became the first black women in space in 1992 when she flew aboard the Endeavour, have given him to confidence to pursue his dream of becoming an astrobiologist.

“I always wondered what it is like to be an astronaut and how it feels to travel to space.

I felt nervous because I was talking to a real astronaut, and excited because I was getting this great opportunity.

“Meeting one of the former astronauts, Dr Mae Jamison and other people who are also involved in astronomy have made me more confident in my dream,” he said.