Editor’s note: This story was published through a partnership between KSAT and noun, an educational platform designed to provide engaging content online for students and teachers.
Hello again parents, teachers and students!
Did you get a chance to see William Shatner, aka Captain Kirk of TV’s “Star Trek” recently go up into space? How cool was that?
Well, a lot of people behind the scenes helped to make that rocket launch happen. And it’s done with lots of computers and technology.
But guess what? There was a time not long ago when computers didn’t exist. That’s right, people had to do a lot of things, including math, by hand. And that included NASA. So what did people or NASA do?
Well, sixth-grade students in Petaluma, California, interviewed author and professor Duchess Harris about her book “Hidden Heroes: The Human Computers of NASA”. Professor Harris wrote the book for students to understand what all is involved in getting astronauts into space and home again.
Harris’ grandmother was a “human computer” who worked with NASA.
In this episode, Harris introduces the concept of human computers before computers existed to students and shares how she became inspired to be a writer.
Interested in bringing noun to your school or classroom and take part in an interview? You can do so by clicking here. The animated class interviews will be shown online and in our free KSAT Kids newsletter and may also be seen in future newscasts!
get into space • extended from noun on Vimeo.
Noun enables students to explore their school subjects and interests using 20-minute live online interviews with subject-matter guests. Find more information here.