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Longtime Parkland Astronomy Teacher Launches Lunar Lecture at the Library 3

Astronomy teacher Kyle Jeter. {courtesy}

Kyle Jeter held up a 3-D printed Saturn V rocket – the colossal machine that catapulted the first U.S. astronauts toward the moon – in order to ignite a discussion about the last five decades of space travel.

He delivered a lunar lecture at the Parkland Library on Feb. 2 on NASA’s latest mission to the Moon. His talk included a model of the lunar module that landed on the Moon during the Apollo missions, which propelled the United States into the space race of the 1960s and 70s.

And now, after more than 50 years, human beings are returning to Earth’s closest celestial neighbor.

As more than 50 space enthusiasts entered the speaker’s wing at the Parkland Library, they were greeted by tables filled with space memorabilia and keepsakes, such as authentic patches worn by astronauts and front-page newspaper articles from the day after the first moon landing on July 20, 1969.

But this lecture by Jeter, an Astronomy teacher at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School for more than 30 years, was less about the present and more about the future.

“My greatest hope is that this mission, and the American know-how that it takes to go to the Moon, might bring us a little closer together as a country,” Jeter said. “Maybe it will remind us of how much we have achieved in the past, and how much we can achieve now when we come together around common goals.”

NASA is now targeting March for the earliest possible launch of its historic Artemis II lunar mission, which will send four astronauts into deep space for the first time since the Apollo program ended more than five decades ago.

Longtime Parkland Astronomy Teacher Launches Lunar Lecture at the Library 4

Kyle Jeter’s collectible coverage of the Moon landing. {Faran Fagen}

When cleared to fly, Artemis II will send NASA’s Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, as well as the Canadian Space Agency’s Jeremy Hansen, on a 10-day journey beyond the far side of the moon. The mission could set a new record for the farthest distance humans have ever traveled from Earth.

At the library, Jeter told the complete story from the original journey to the moon through the Apollo program, right through today’s Artemis Program.

“I explained how our original intentions had far more to do with politics (for example, beating the Soviets) than exploration or Science discovery,” Jeter said. “I compared this to our current motivation to return to the Moon, which may have a lot to do with the rise of the Chinese space program and their own lunar ambitions.”

Several of Jeter’s former and current Astronomy students enjoyed the star-studded lecture.

“I’m excited for us to get back to the moon after so many decades,” senior Caden Wehmeyer said. “Mr. Jeter was as passionate as he is in class; he’s always engaging.”

Jeter also analyzed the trajectory of Artemis II and discussed the goals (and challenges) of Artemis III.

One highlight was the display of Apollo-era artifacts that Jeter shared. After a 42-year career at NASA, local resident Dr. Dorothy Hall donated her collection. She and her husband, Russ Hall, a former Science teacher, were both in attendance.

As far as Science education, Jeter thinks this mission, and especially the Artemis III mission, will be a great inspiration to young people who might be interested in STEM careers.

“From satellite constellations to AI data centers in orbit, humans are beginning to utilize space in ways that seemed like science fiction just a few years ago,” Jeter said.

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Author Profile

Faran Fagen

Faran Fagen, who teaches high school journalism, graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Journalism degree and from Florida Atlantic University with a degree in Education. He's worked at The Palm Beach Post, SunSentinel, and MLB.com. He lives in Coral Springs with his wife and two children. Oh, and his three dogs -- who all think that they're his favorite.