By Aditya Kumar (CSEE ‘27)
(Rosemead, California) – While everyone else was tackling the esteemed PSAT and SAT exams, the Nose-Landing Gear Club (NLG) crew was on a mission of a different extreme—watching a marvel of aerospace history roll down Bellflower Blvd! Founded in 2023, Bosco Tech’s NLG is the only group of high school students working on the Inspiration Space Shuttle.
Our role? Sand down and prime the shuttle’s nose-landing section, parts of the same mockup building in 1972 by North American Rockwell, which will soon be showcased at the Columbia Memorial Space Center’s new state-of- the-art, 12.8-acre facility in Downey.
The day began early as most of us squeezed into a white Chevy SUV while the others filled in Mr. Garza’s car. Our trip was accompanied by 80s tunes (which we sang along to)and Mr. Krynen’s casual tales of Bosco Tech’s retro days. The muggy morning air and cool breeze gave our drive an oddly nostalgic vibe, which suited the archaic feel of our shuttle project. We headed toward Downey with excitement that probably matched what North American Rockwell engineers felt in 1972. Our crew filled up the spacious untouched back row (the great benefits of carpooling), ready for the eventful day ahead!
On arrival, we were greeted by several reporters and helicopters that flew in the distance, giving us a sense of fame, along with some Bosco alumni, and State Senator Bob Archuleta, all of whom shared stories of our school’s past and their own amazing feats.
Soon, watching the massive Inspiration Shuttle—brought in piece by piece into the space center— gave us a strange sentiment. It was the first time we truly discovered how tremendous our project was. Ben Dockow, the space center’s President and Executive Director, gave a speech on its significance, calling it as once the “blueprint” for rockets to come. For us, it was a glimpse into the world of
aerospace, with the opportunity to meet NASA, JPL, and SpaceX engineers who shared advice.”
After the event, our club advisors, Mr. Krynen and Mr. Garza, proposed a celebratory stop at In-N-Out. “Does anyone object to going to In-N- Out?” Mr. Krynen asked as if anyone would say no to some burgers with fries. A quick detour back to school led us to a bustling In-N-Out, where we spent an hour reflecting on the day over burgers. My grilled cheese animal-style burger never tasted so satisfying.
As we climbed back into that large SUV, dozing off to sleep, I couldn’t help but feel grateful—and a bit humbled. Seeing what goes into projects like Inspiration and talking with professionals in the field made me think about what’s next for our club—and for myself. The Nose-Landing Gear Club may be a small team, but we’re part of something much, much bigger.