Valley kids get glimpse of astronaut fitness demands at library program

CAMPBELL

Children learned what it takes to maintain astronaut health and fitness during many months in the weightless environment of space in a today public library-sponsored program.

The program was presented at the Campbell Public Library Branch by Jason Swiatkowski, education coordinator at the Armstrong Air and Space Museum in Wapakoneta.

Swiatkowski donned an Apollo-style space suit, then doffed it to reveal a more comfortable space shuttle era flight suit he wore beneath it.

“In space, everything you do is more difficult because you have no gravity holding things in place,” he said.

The free program will be repeated at 3 p.m. July 22 at the Boardman Branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, 7680 Glenwood Ave.

“It was fun,” Michael Yasechko, 12, of Campbell, said of the program, which included a wind tunnel exercise and tests of teamwork and reaction time.

“I thought this would be a learning experience for my little brother,” said Michael, who rode his bicycle to the neighborhood library with his 8-year-old brother, Anthony Castorena.

Michael said he was previously unaware of the bone density loss an astronaut would suffer without exercise on a long space mission.

“I think it’s good,” Anthony said of the program. “I didn’t really know about space,” he added.

“I’ve liked space since I was 4,” said Ali Grant, 12, of Canfield.

Read more about the program in Saturday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.