Reaching for the Stars, On Screen and Off
In many respects, 2026 has become the year of space. Project Hail Mary, which follows science teacher Ryland Grace on a desperate mission to save Earth from a dying sun, is one of the highest-grossing films of the year. The Artemis II mission, which launched on April 1 and returned on April 11, marked the first time humans had traveled beyond low Earth orbit since 1972. Together, the two stories—one fictional, one real—have sparked a renewed interest among students in space, science, and what humanity is reaching for.
