News
Students Get Full NASA Experience
03 October 2017
Year 7 visited the Euro Space Center in Belgium between 26th and 29th September. During their stay the students took part in discussions ranging from ‘how to land a man on the Moon’ to ‘life beyond planet Earth’. They experienced first hand the conditions experienced by astronauts by taking a ride on the multi-axis chair, going through the difficulties of dizziness in the rotating chair, going for a virtual Moonwalk with simulated Moon-like gravity and repairing satellites on the zero gravity wall. Students also got the chance to experience a Mars walk, with VR goggles and simulated weight adjustment. To get the full NASA experience the students took part in two hour-long space missions from launch control, taking on roles such as Flight Director and Shuttle Pilot. On the engineering side, all students designed and constructed their own rockets, which were then launched on the last day. Finally, for pure fun, we all took a turn on the center’s 5D shuttle ride: a ride that would befit most high-end theme parks. The students returned having strengthened friendships and discovered much about space and astronomy in the meantime. There will be a few gazing with renewed wonder at the stars over the next few weeks.
