The BCC Auditorium at ICT Tower buzzed with excitement as NASA’s Chief Astronaut, Joseph M. Acaba, took the stage during a “Meet and Greet” event on Monday afternoon. The packed auditorium stood in respectful silence as Acaba joined the audience in singing the Bangladeshi national anthem. Deeply moved by the moment, he assured NASA’s full support for advancing space education in Bangladesh. Responding to a student’s query, he highlighted ongoing efforts, saying, “Through the support of the U.S. Embassy, Gartner has been working for a long time to promote space education in Bangladesh. As a teacher myself, and with the Embassy’s help, I am eager to work with stakeholders to offer practical education that makes the dream of space exploration and becoming astronauts a reality.”
Encouraging the audience, Acaba remarked, “With deep passion and a bit of craziness, success is inevitable.” In a lighthearted moment, addressing a question about aliens, he quipped, “I haven’t seen any aliens, but I’ve seen Batman and Spider-Man. It’s all in good fun.”
The event, jointly organized by BASIS Student Forum and the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka, was moderated by BASIS Support Committee Chairman, Rafael Kabir. Among the distinguished guests were James Smith Gardiner, Head of the Economic Section at the U.S. Embassy; ICT Policy Advisor Faiez Ahmad Tayeb; and Ishrat Hasan, Joint Secretary of the ICT Division. The program began with remarks from Fuad Hasan, team leader of “EcoRangers” from Daffodil University, who represented Mymensingh as the winner of NASA Space Apps 2024.
During his presentation, Acaba engaged the audience with a warm query: “Who here likes pizza?” He followed this up by showcasing a video of their pizza parties aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Sharing his experiences, he said, “The last time I embarked on a mission to the ISS was six months ago from Kazakhstan. I spent 306 days in space, maintaining health through regular exercise like running and weightlifting in a microgravity environment. Interestingly, we could easily push and carry heavy objects there. We even planted a tree while on the mission.”
In the Q&A session, Acaba, while describing life with the “seven-member family” aboard the ISS, explained that astronauts stay connected with loved ones through daily video calls. He advised a young participant, Mrinal, not to feel nervous on stage, reassuring him with words of encouragement.
Earlier, Faiez Ahmad Tayeb addressed the audience, urging the younger generation to harness leadership skills and contribute to solving national problems through space exploration. “Joseph’s visit to Bangladesh is a milestone for us. I encourage you to use artificial intelligence in satellite technology to protect the environment. With dedication, success is assured,” he said.
Speaking to the space enthusiasts, James Smith Gardiner remarked, “Everyone is drawn to the blue suits. Take this opportunity to ask him about the mysteries of space travel. He is not just an astronaut; he’s also a teacher, making this learning experience truly captivating.”
In her remarks, Ishrat Hasan drew parallels with Bangladesh’s historic struggles for independence, saying, “On December 16, we achieved freedom from a military regime. History cannot be forgotten. In July, we gained independence once again. Now, we must be objective and focused.”
The event concluded with a symbolic gesture as students handed over a Bangladeshi flag, flown on July 36, to Joseph M. Acaba, marking the culmination of an inspiring and memorable gathering.
