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While our sons grew up in the 1970s-80s, we lived a few miles from the Johnson Space Center in the southeast Houston Metroplex. It was where the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) center for human spaceflight was located. Our proximity influenced our sons since we could periodically stop by or attend special NASA programs. Hence, large space flight pictures were plastered on the boys’ walls, and they were exuberant in their youthful rocket-building attempts. 

Another benefit of living near NASA was that school trips could be organized to meet and hear astronauts. One particular school trip vividly stands out in my mind. David’s fourth-grade class entered an auditorium at NASA and found many other groups of students from the area had already arrived. The students watched several demonstrations. Then, one of the astronauts came out to speak. He was personable and asked numerous questions to get the students to interact with him.

He asked them which astronaut had done specific trips or tasks, and then he had them raise their hand if they thought they knew the answer. In one situation, one child gave Neil Armstrong as the answer to the question, and there were several other answers from other students. We were sitting toward the back. David bounced up and down in his seat and frantically waved his hand because he thought all the earlier answers were incorrect. Finally, he was called on and gave his answer: Buzz Aldrin. Then, the auditorium got quiet with great anticipation. At the same time, the students voted on which astronaut they thought was the correct answer. Out of all the answers given, most students voted for Neil Armstrong, and only about three voted with David for Buzz Aldrin. My heart sank. David had the whole auditorium filled with students who mostly voted against him.  That was a lot of pressure for a nine-year-old, but he was confident he was correct.

To my delight, the astronaut pointed out that David was correct. He used the situation they had just experienced to talk about the fact that TRUTH is not determined by a majority vote but by the facts. He emphasized the importance of sticking to the facts and not being intimidated by others who differ in their opinion, even if you are in the minority—as they had just witnessed of David. This emphasis on standing by the truth, regardless of the majority opinion, can make us feel empowered and confident in our beliefs, regardless of age. 

I saw that same demonstration while visiting with my son Charles, who knew the correct answer to the astronaut’s question. This situation must have been a regular aspect of their program with students, demonstrating that a majority vote does not determine truth.

The experience had a lasting impact on David. I don’t know about the other students, but he stood slightly taller afterward. He seemed more confident in his knowledge and more willing to stand by his beliefs, even when they were unpopular. 

Monty and I were aware of the open discussion of differing views at NASA. We periodically met with some of the NASA employees and had engineer and scientist friends who would visit for home-cooked meals during their short-term projects with NASA in those early days. Through them, we learned that there were indeed some lively discussions on various topics within NASA where people had definite differing opinions—for example, would there be so much depth to the dust on the moon (because of its supposed age) that it would cause a problem for a rocket landing on the moon? This reminded me that I grew up thinking democracy functioned best by having ideas out in the open in the furnace of debate so that the best could rise in the marketplace of ideas.

Seeing the astronaut emphasize that schoolchildren should base their decisions on factual truth rather than feelings was delightful. This emphasis on truth and fact-based decision-making was a core value at NASA in those early days, and it was inspiring to see how it was being used to influence young minds. I wish this were the case in all schools.

 David’s fourth-grade class was learning a valuable lesson. Today, we’re surrounded by so many lies and deceptions that sometimes it is hard to sort through and determine the truth. That’s why we seek God’s direction and His Truth instead of going strictly on emotions. This emphasis on seeking truth and guidance in a world filled with falsehoods can provide us with reassurance and direction, helping us navigate the complexities of our world.

 “So Jesus said … “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32 (ESV)