NASA Headquarters

The NASA headquarters in Clear Lake Texas represent the themes of the power of youth, competition, and old versus new media. Stamper also uses the setting to bookend the start of Cal’s drama in Clear Lake, and how he ends it. The NASA headquarters are where Calvin Sr. (Cal’s dad) works as an astronaut, and where Cal will also eventually work as a social media reporter. Cal describes NASA as, “The tiles beneath my feet are a sterile white, and everything looks, feels and smells fresh and new . . . This is the NASA I can get behind. The practical one that doesn’t care about flare and isn’t clinging to some weird retro reality” (131).

Cal first goes to the NASA headquarters with his Dad and Leon in Chapter 10. Though Cal has Donna’s business card inviting him to be a part of the team there...