On Tuesday, December 7, the students of The Moriah School were very lucky and privileged to have a special Zoom engagement with astronaut Jared Isaacman. Isaacman, a businessman, experienced pilot and philanthropist, was the mission commander on the recent SpaceX flight, Inspiration4. Inspiration4 was the first human spaceflight to orbit the Earth with only private citizens aboard.

Students in grades three-eight were mesmerized as Isaacman shared a slide show presentation which included video of the take off as well as footage while in orbit. He told students about his crew and why each was a valuable member of the team. Isaacman explained some of the scientific research that happened aboard and proudly informed us that the mission promoted and raised money for tzedaka for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Prior to the talk, teachers submitted dozens of questions that the students wanted to ask Issacman. After the presentation, Tzipporah Boim, associate principal, middle school, led the Q&A session with students asking questions such as: What is the hardest part about being an astronaut? His answer was one many would not have expected:Leaving his family was the hardest part due to the possible danger of space travel. It totally made sense!

When asked if Isaacman had wanted to be an astronaut since he was a little kid, he answered with a resounding “Yes!” So for all of the boys and girls dreaming of becoming an astronaut … you never know!

Thank you to Moriah parent Darrin Peller for arranging this one of a kind presentation with Issacman. This was an opportunity that the students of The Moriah School will remember for many years to come!