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“I was always excited to see photos from the Hubble Space Telescope, which has some of the best pictures we’ve ever taken of distant stars and galaxies,” Slodysko says. “I also enjoyed watching documentaries or films about space travel and even went to space camp in high school.”

Now a senior studying in the , Slodysko recently had an experience that further fueled his love for rocketry: a conversation with Bill Nelson, the current administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

How exactly did he manage to meet with NASA’s chief officer? The answer lies in an unexpected craving for ice cream.

Nelson and U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, who represents Pennsylvania’s 8th district, visited a high school in Slodysko’s hometown of Pittson, Pennsylvania. After the event, the NASA administrator was craving a sweet treat, so they both decided to head over to a nearby ice cream shop. The shop owners are friends with Slodysko’s parents and knew he was studying aerospace engineering at ���ӽ�. They invited Slodysko’s dad to the shop while Nelson and Cartwright were there. This provided the perfect opportunity for Slodysko to speak with Nelson.

“When I first got the mention that I had a chance to talk to Bill Nelson, I went for it. I immediately said ‘Yes, get me in!’ These situations are rare and don’t happen often,” Slodysko says.

Slodysko couldn’t physically attend the meeting as he was on campus, but was thrilled to participate in an impromptu FaceTime call with Nelson and Cartwright. Though he was initially nervous, the conversation was filled with encouragement and support, reigniting Slodysko’s passion for aerospace engineering and potentially paving the way for a future at NASA.

“They told me I was on the right path, and they were impressed with my work. It was such an inspiring conversation that I’ll never forget,” Slodysko says.

Slodysko intends to continue exploring his interest in structural design, propulsion and aerodynamic analysis as he completes his undergraduate degree. He’s also currently completing a computer-based code that produces modular model rocket parts that are 3D printable. He aims to make this code available for free download online so that others can either create their own model rockets by adjusting code variables or work to improve the code created by him.

Additionally, Slodysko plans to enroll in graduate school and hopes to secure an internship with NASA, potentially getting to meet the administrator once again but this time, face-to-face. To Slodysko, this would be an experience that’s truly out of this world.

“I’m deeply grateful to Congressman Cartwright and Bill Nelson for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Slodysko says. “I’ll never forget this and I’m so excited for what the future holds. This is going to stick with me for a long time.”