Charles Bolden, Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the United States, on Tuesday spent hours at the meeting hall of Hanoi’s Amsterdam high school talking with students.

Bolden shared with the students his experience as an astronaut for NASA. “All daily activities of astronauts are different from those living on earth. In such a special living environment, team spirit is very important, without it, you would face dangers,” he said.

Many students burst into laughter as the NASA chief showed them how to use a toilet in outer space.

“At the space station, if you sit on a toilet without clinging onto something, you could fly,” he told students.

When asked if the world is about to end on December 21, 2012 as many people believe, the NASA administrator said: “I don’t care about Judgment Day. I just care about the year 2040.”

NASA has said that a sizeable asteroid could collide with the Earth in 2040.

Bolden addressed at the meeting that all students including those in Vietnam have equal opportunities to engage in NASA-funded space research programs if they have a passion.

“If you want to pursue science-related careers or other fields, you need to prepare to achieve that goal. The best way is that you should not be afraid of failure. For students, never leave the class if you have yet to fully understand what teachers tell you and never let your teachers have time to take a rest,” Bolden emphasized.

Charles Bolden on Monday paid a two-day visit to Vietnam with the aim of further promoting mutual cooperation in space science and technology development.

During his first day in the country, the NASA chief visited the Vietnam National Satellite Center (VNSC) where he shared his experience in cooperation and development of space technology, according to VnExpress newswire.   

A student asks Charles Bolden a question during the meeting on December 11, 2012. Photo by Tuoi Tre

The NASA chief receives many questions from students during the meeting on December 11, 2012. Photo by Tuoi Tre

Charles Bolden enters the hall of Amsterdam high school on December 11, 2012 to have an exchange meeting with its students. Photo by Tuoi Tre