Utilizing the communications technology in the school’s Innovation Center, Monsignor Edward Pace High School students chatted with a rocket engineer from Space X through Skype on October 22. Students from Laura Lima’s Math Analysis class listened and asked questions from Stephan Suarez, production manager of Merlin Rocket Engines at SpaceX.
Suarez received his bachelors degree from the University of Miami and his masters from Pennsylvania State University. He oversees the production of the Merlin Rocket Engines that will take astronauts to Mars. He spoke about how important math was in every class he took for his Electrical Engineering degree and how much he still uses what he learned in his career today.
Enthusiastic students asked him questions about space travel, SpaceX’s current research into Mars and how to travel there, and even if he had met SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.
“Students don’t always see a direct application for the topics we cover in class,” said Lima. “So it was invaluable for these students to hear someone speak about how important math is in their career.”