Why hasn't NASA started sending children to the International Space Station?

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   Paul Samposted 8 years ago

   Why hasn't NASA started sending children to the International Space Station?

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   lisavollrathposted 8 years ago

   Why would NASA want to send children into space? They're not old enough to make the decision to go. Their brains aren't completely developed yet. Their decision-making abilities haven't matured yet.
   
   While there is no age requirement to be an astronaut, they've ranged in age from  26 and 46, with the average age being 34. Most astronauts either have military flight training, or an educational background that qualifies them for their mission.

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      Paul Samposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Well Lisa, both NASA and ROSCOSMOS sent some animals to space. There minds too were not developed. But they sent them. Same way, why not children?

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      lisavollrathposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      There's a big difference between sending test animals to space, and sending someone's child. Again, WHY would NASA want to do this, when there's a plentiful supply of trained adults willing to go?

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      m abdullah javedposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      You are true, what meant is the children will be educated and by the time they are fully trained they will be grown up adults. So it is just a learning stage for children.

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      lisavollrathposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      The educational programs for kids are not astronaut training programs. Kids don't train to be astronauts. Only adults can apply to the astronaut training program.

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   m abdullah javedposted 8 years ago

   Children are being trained not only for that but also to meet the challenges of the outer world. You can have details of the programs offered by NASA. To mention a few:
   For the children of age groups 9-11, 12-14, 15-18, there is an Astranauts Training Program that includes model rocket launches and stimulated missions into space and also Aviation Challenge Camp through which one can learn Aeronautical Design and Aviation Principles. This is being offered by Kenedy Space Center, Florida.
   There are other weeklong, overnight programs like Space Camp, Space Academy, Space Camp Robotics and Aviation Challenge being offered January through November at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. For more information on the programs for children, families, adults and educators, visit www.spacecamp.com or contact:
   U.S. Space & Rocket Center
   One Tranquility Base
   Huntsville, AL 35807
   1 800-63-SPACE (1-800-637-7223) or 256-837-3400.

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      lisavollrathposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Children are NOT being trained to be sent to the International Space Station, which is what the question asked. The programs you describe are educational, but not actual training to become astronauts.

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      m abdullah javedposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      True. lisavollrath, through these programs one can expect children to be future Astranauts.

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      lisavollrathposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      No, you really can't expect that kids going through a space camp program will be astronauts. They're kids interested in space. Maybe some of them might apply to the astronaut training program, or grow up to be astronomers, scientists, pilots, etc.

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      m abdullah javedposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      That's true. This is was I meant. Thanks for the clarifications.

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   KCOposted 7 years ago

   That would be a very expensive field trip. I can't imagine my mother ever signing the permission slip...

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