RocketSTEM Issue #3 - October 2013 | Page 58

being passed to the future. What was clear was how engaged Dave was in inspiring children to take up STEM subjects and study hard. Who knows, perhaps among them, and many others like them would be the first human to return to the Moon or set foot on Mars… During the banquet was perhaps the most touching moment of the night for me. On the 51st anniversary of his Aurora VII Mercury flight, Scott Carpenter was given a rousing dedication and standing ovation. As one of the astronauts left alive today from that pioneering program, he showed true courage as a test pilot during his one and only mission. Latter day critics have claimed he almost exhausted his propellant forcing an early mission abort and Spacefest V: Day 3 Feeling the effects of the 2 previous days, many of us “Spacefesters” were flagging but dragged ourselves down for breakfast, sitting with any number of astronauts, scientists and speakers we like B