Yasuhara Middle School NASA launch watch party ends with popsicles, no Anne McClain launch

Thirty or so kids at Yasuhara Middle School sat on the school’s massive stairs long after the final bell rang Wednesday.

They intended to watch the livestream of the Crew-10 launch from just a stone’s throw away from where mission leader Anne McClain graduated high school at Gonzaga Prep in 1997.

“I think it’s really cool that she’s from where I am,” said 6th grader Kahiya Alleyne.

Staff put the livestream up on a big screen for the students to marvel at the spacecraft, though NASA officials soon announced they’d scrubbed Wednesday’s launch, delaying takeoff because of an issue with the hydraulics system.

Students were disappointed when their assistant principal, Julia Rendall, announced the launch was postponed and they wouldn’t get to see their hometown hero shoot for the stars – at least not yet.

Rendall used the moment as a teaching opportunity, explaining to her kids the importance of safety and empathy, inviting them to “imagine what that might feel like for Anne,” as well as NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore stuck on the International Space Station, who Crew-10 is replacing.

“Scared,” “Little Traumatized,” “PTSD,” kids shouted out their guesses as to how Williams and Wilmore may be feeling with the delay.

Their disappointment was soothed with Anne McClain trivia and bingo, spacey temporary tattoos and red-white-and-blue astro pops distributed by the staff.

“It’s better to be safe than sorry,” Rendall told her kids.

There are at least two opportunities for launch in the coming days, as NASA and SpaceX crews will continue to look into the issue. McClain could launch into space as soon as Friday at 4:03 p.m.

Editor’s Note: This story has been amended to reflect Julia Rendall’s position at the school.