Before Artemis II, a Voice from Apollo 13 Lands at Trent
Astronaut Fred Haise connects with Trent teacher candidates, turning one of NASA’s most studied missions into a live virtual lesson in leadership and learning
As NASA prepared for its return to the moon with Artemis II, Trent University teacher candidates were learning from someone who lived through one of spaceflight’s most defining moments. Apollo 13 astronaut Fred Haise joined students in the Trent School of Education for a rare virtual conversation, connecting past missions to the future of science education.
At age 36, NASA Astronaut and Apollo program Lunar Module Pilot (LMP), Haise embarked on a mission to the moon. Made commercially famous by the 1995 Ron Howard film Apollo 13 featuring Tom Hanks, the 1970 mission would be deemed a ‘A Successful Failure’ after a service module oxygen tank exploded, leaving crew members in the hands of mission control to get them home safely.
Becoming an astronaut was not initially in the cards for Haise, as the space program had not yet existed when he was in school. Reflecting on his own path, Haise challenged students: “Students are all blessed and born with talent. How are we going to best use that talent?”
Driven by a passion for space education, Science and Social Studies instructor Karla Wagner with the School of Education, a Space Camp for Educators graduate, invited Logan Jaeren, coordinator with Astronaut Adventures (Steam 4 Space), to arrange the special opportunity for teacher candidates to hear from Haise.
“I booked Apollo 13 astronaut Fred Haise to speak with all of our teacher candidates as a way to connect students with living history as we prepared for Artemis II, the first crewed journey around the moon since Apollo 17 in 1972,” shared Wagner. "Sharing my passion for space and science with others is something I deeply value, and I had the privilege of asking Fred a question during a session with Logan last May. The experience was so memorable that I knew I had to bring it to our students.”
During the session, Haise spoke with Trent teacher candidates about resilience, problem-solving, and the role of educators in shaping future innovators.
Encountering living history firsthand gave the event a powerful sense of immediacy. Engaging with Haise in real time provided teacher candidates insight into how history is preserved through evidence, storytelling, and honest reflection on scientific missteps. Just as important, the experience highlighted the role of online communities and professional relationships in making learning relevant to today's learner.
“Opportunities such as this were built and cultivated by passionate online communities that Karla is a part of,” said Rich McPherson, digital citizenship instructor at Trent University. “Modeling community in online spaces enables educators to extend learning beyond the classroom. Teaching students to engage with social media in meaningful and intentional ways supports relevance, connection, and deeper learning for this generation”.
“The value of history is realizing that problem solving requires critical thinking, collaboration and leadership, skills that are in demand today as much if not more than in the past,” added Jaeren. “The opportunity to have a personal encounter with someone that has a lived experience and a passion or willingness to share it sparks genuine curiosity and wonderment that has a lasting influence.”
