On February 13, 2018, the Class of 2024 went to the Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum in Chantilly, Virginia, where two pioneers in space and aviation taught us about their expertise, drawing from their own thrilling personal experiences. Upon arrival, we were split into two groups, one going with Captain Nevius, one of the first women to graduate from the Navy’s flight school, and the other group going with Dr. Readdy, a retired astronaut who went on three missions on the space shuttle Discovery and Atlantis. Captain Nevius taught us about her time in the field of aviation and history in aviation, and Dr. Readdy spoke about his time in space. Both of them answered our stream of seemingly endless questions. Afterwards, we were given a private tour of the museum and then a tour of the hangar to see historical and modern aviation. We so enjoyed the trip!

 

Dr. Readdy took us to Discovery, the space shuttle for two of his three missions. He showed us how the panels on the sides had changed color because of the heat and how the pressure had caused some of them to fly off. He told us about how the sunrise and sunset were very close together and that their days were shorter. When preparing for space, the astronauts had to do things like go into a pool while wearing all of their gear and going on the “vomit comet,” in which they experience zero gravity.

Captain Nevius talked to us about helicopters. Captain Nevius was the first naval aviator to go to the United States Naval Test Pilot School. She recently ended her twenty-six-year career with the Navy. Nevius spoke to us about the blades on a plane or helicopter and about how planes deliver supplies to soldiers in war. She also taught us how the color of a plane was important, because if it is going into a place of war, it should be camouflaged. Something that we found very interesting was the history of women in the Navy and what they wore. Captain Nevius had an incredible experience in the Navy and we certainly learned a lot about her. Thank you Captain Nevius and Dr. Readdy! We hope we can get a chance like this again.