[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":102},["ShallowReactive",2],{"y8qfnnIoPFElXWy5Mpk4IBVDp_uNJ5I1rgYWximoHko":3,"article_i-want-to-be-an-astronaut_solidworks":10,"_apollo:default":100,"_apollo:identified":101},{"mailchimpAudience":4},{"actionUrl":5,"slug":6,"locale":7,"default":8,"__typename":9},"","i-want-to-be-an-astronaut","en","https:\u002F\u002F3ds.us3.list-manage.com\u002Fsubscribe\u002Fpost?u=ed4601044e1936748c0d2aa6b&id=e5080ff9fe&f_id=002d4de2f0","MailchimpAudience",{"posts":11},{"nodes":12,"__typename":99},[13],{"id":14,"slug":6,"title":15,"uri":16,"excerpt":17,"locale":18,"featuredImage":21,"tableOfContents":30,"content":31,"date":32,"authorJobTitle":5,"author":33,"masterings":46,"globalTags":50,"products":53,"disciplines":67,"seo":88,"__typename":98},"cG9zdDo2MjcwNw==","I want to be an Astronaut","\u002Fproducts\u002Fsolidworks\u002Fi-want-to-be-an-astronaut","\u003Cp>The quickest way to go to the moon or Mars is to…\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"locale":19,"__typename":20},"en_US","Locale",{"node":22,"__typename":29},{"large":23,"__typename":24,"medium_large":25,"thumbnail":26,"srcSet":27,"sizes":28},"https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Frocketcenter-moon-809x1024.jpg.webp","MediaItem","https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Frocketcenter-moon-768x973.jpg.webp","https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Frocketcenter-moon-150x150.jpg.webp","https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Frocketcenter-moon-809x1024.jpg.webp 809w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Frocketcenter-moon-237x300.jpg.webp 237w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Frocketcenter-moon-768x973.jpg.webp 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Frocketcenter-moon-1213x1536.jpg.webp 1213w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Frocketcenter-moon-1617x2048.jpg.webp 1617w, https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Frocketcenter-moon-scaled.jpg.webp 2021w","(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px","NodeWithFeaturedImageToMediaItemConnectionEdge",[],"\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"236\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Frocketcenter-moon-236x300-1.jpg.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-62709\">\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003Cp>The quickest way to go to the moon or Mars is to visit the \u003Ca title=\"US Space & Rocket Center\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.rocketcenter.com\u002F\">US Space & Rocket Center\u003C\u002Fa> in Huntsville, Alabama.  Rocket Center is the official visitor center for \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nasa.gov\u002Fcenters\u002Fmarshall\u002Fhome\u002F\">NASA Marshall Space Flight Center\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"152\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Frocket-center-space-shuttle-300x152-1.jpg.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-62710\">\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003Cp>From the history of the Saturn V rocket (real one) to the documented actions of the space race, you feel as if you are part of the history, the space shuttle program, and the future of space exploration.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>I recall as a little girl watching the launch of Apollo 11 on a small black & white tv,  stating to my father, ” I want to be an Astronaut” – well that didn’t happen.  But I do feel becoming a mechanical engineer was influenced by the men and women so dedicated to the exploration of space.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"195\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fmars-simulator-300x195-1.jpg.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-62711\">\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003Cp>You can experience Mars from the interactive Mars Mission simulator to the scaled Mars Curiosity Rover at the Rocket Center.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2025\u002F12\u002Fdottie-metcalf-lindenburger-graduate-of-space-camp-225x300-1.jpg.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-62712\">\u003C\u002Ffigure>\u003Cp>Rocket Center is are also known for Space Camp, week long and over night programs for young trainees ages 9-18, www.spacecamp.com. Who knows where the next young explorer from Space Camp will travel, like astronaut \u003Ca title=\"Dottie Metcalf Linderburger bio\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.jsc.nasa.gov\u002FBios\u002Fhtmlbios\u002Fmetcalf-lindenburger-dm.html\">Dorothy M. Metcalf-Lindenburger\u003C\u002Fa>.  \u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Thank you Brian, Ricky and the North Alabama SolidWorks Users Group for the experience to visit Huntsville and the US Space & Rocket Center.  Marie\u003C\u002Fp>","2014-04-01T11:45:34",{"node":34,"__typename":45},{"nicename":35,"description":36,"slug":37,"name":38,"firstName":39,"lastName":40,"avatar":41,"__typename":44},"marie-planchard","Marie Planchard is an education and engineering advocate. As Senior Director of  Education & Early Engagement, SOLIDWORKS, she is responsible for global development of content and social outreach across all levels of learning.","marie planchard","Marie Planchard","Marie","Planchard",{"url":42,"__typename":43},"https:\u002F\u002Fblog-assets.solidworks.com\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F10\u002Fnyzykisa-jpeg-96x96.webp","Avatar","User","NodeWithAuthorToUserConnectionEdge",{"nodes":47,"edges":48,"__typename":49},[],[],"PostToTaxonomy_masteringConnection",{"nodes":51,"__typename":52},[],"PostToTaxonomy_tagConnection",{"edges":54,"nodes":64,"__typename":66},[55],{"isPrimary":56,"node":57,"__typename":63},false,{"id":58,"name":59,"slug":60,"uri":61,"__typename":62},"dGVybTo1Ng==","SOLIDWORKS","solidworks","\u002Fproducts\u002Fsolidworks\u002F","Taxonomy_product","PostToTaxonomy_productConnectionEdge",[65],{"id":58,"name":59,"slug":60,"uri":61,"__typename":62},"PostToTaxonomy_productConnection",{"nodes":68,"edges":83,"__typename":87},[69],{"id":70,"name":71,"slug":72,"uri":73,"parentId":74,"disciplines":75,"__typename":82},"dGVybTo2OQ==","Students","students","\u002Fdisciplines\u002Fstudents\u002F","dGVybTo2Ng==",{"nodes":76,"__typename":81},[77],{"title":71,"uri":78,"parentId":79,"__typename":80},"\u002Fdisciplines\u002Feducation\u002Fstudents","cG9zdDozNzgx","Discipline","Taxonomy_disciplineToDisciplineConnection","Taxonomy_discipline",[84],{"isPrimary":56,"node":85,"__typename":86},{"parentId":74,"id":70,"name":71,"slug":72,"uri":73,"__typename":82},"PostToTaxonomy_disciplineConnectionEdge","PostToTaxonomy_disciplineConnection",{"canonical":5,"title":89,"metaDesc":5,"opengraphAuthor":5,"opengraphDescription":90,"opengraphTitle":15,"opengraphUrl":91,"opengraphSiteName":92,"opengraphPublishedTime":93,"opengraphModifiedTime":94,"twitterTitle":5,"twitterDescription":5,"readingTime":95,"metaRobotsNoindex":96,"__typename":97},"I want to be an Astronaut - Blog Solidworks","The quickest way to go to the moon or Mars is to…","\u002Fproducts\u002Fsolidworks\u002Fi-want-to-be-an-astronaut\u002F","Blog Solidworks","2014-04-01T15:45:34+00:00","2026-01-13T12:44:01+00:00",1,"noindex","PostTypeSEO","Post","RootQueryToPostConnection",{},{},1777229439116]