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UK SPACE AGENCY CHALLENGES STUDENTS TO TRAIN AS ASTRONAUTS

Four Astronauts were on hand at the House of Commons in December 2010 to launch a new space mission – a challenge to young people aged 9-11 to improve their health by training as astronauts. Three of the astronauts are well-known and regular visitors to Parliament: Dr Piers Sellers OBE, Dr Helen Sharman OBE, and Richard Garriott, British born private space participant and son of Dr Owen Garriott. The fourth visitor would have been spotted by eagle eyed observers as the diminutive mascot of Mission X – Flat Charlie (inspired by NASA Administrator, Major General Charles Bolden), Heather MacRae pictured here with Piers Sellers before his adventure to the Director, Venture Thinking International Space Station as part of the space doctor Michael Barratt’s payload for STS 133 Discovery. Dr Michael Barratt and the STS 133 Discovery Crew visited Parliament on June 29 2011 as guests of the Parliamentary Space Committee. Dr Piers Sellers with Flat Charlie outside Big Ben

270 students, from 7 Essex schools(1), responded to the challenge and embarked on a unique mission to train like an astronaut and boost their health and fitness. The international educational outreach pilot led by NASA involved 9 different countries including the USA, Columbia, and European nations. Mission X challenges students to be more physically active; increases awareness of the importance of lifelong health and conditioning; teaches students how fitness plays a vital role in human performance for exploration; and inspires and motivates students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Supported by the UK Space Agency and Venture Thinking The Train Like an Astronaut Competition challenge ‘blasted off’ in December with a visit from Astronaut Richard Garriott to the lead school Mountfitchet

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Mathematics and Computing curricular tasks including food topics. All the students have A planning meeting is taking College. Students took part in a diaries, hydration logs, and been excited by the space place at ESTEC in The launch day held at the secondary physical fitness challenges. All the context and the excellent Netherlands in July 2011 to school on January 14th 2011. activities were aimed at showing teaching activities. We are hoping identify the next phases in the Input from rocket scientist, Jon the importance of an active to build this into our curriculum mission. All being well a new set London, Astronaut Instructor, Dr lifestyle, healthy nutrition and also over the coming year and extend of young astronauts will be Iya Whiteley, and nutritionist the fun of conducting hands-on to other schools within our local training and getting excited about Caroline Harper gave students science enquiries. community.” the world’s future in space in the expert insights into health off- UK from January 2012. Team challenges in the UK Dr Glenys Jones, from the world and back on earth. Jeremy include 19 different physical Medical Research Council Further information on the Curtis from the UK Space Agency missions. Examples include: Human Nutrition Division, one of project is available from: provided insight into the growth the experts who took part in the [email protected] and innovation within the UK • Energy of an Astronaut Astronaut Graduation event www.trainlikeanastronaut.org Space Industry and the exciting • Base Station Walkback noted: “Childhood obesity is a http://www.ukspaceagency.bis. range of jobs available for future • Let's Climb a Martian Mountain growing problem. This project gov.uk scientists and engineers. • Crew Assembly has been great because it has • Do a Spacewalk Heather MacRae as Director In a message to the UK allowed children to have fun • Hydration station of Venture Thinking has been students embarking on Mission whilst exercising, and has given • Space Rock N Roll working closely with the UK X, British Astronaut Dr Piers them an insight into what makes • Zero gravity/Low Fat Space Agency, Queen Mary Sellers OBE, said, “Being an a good diet in an interesting and • Astro-agility University of London and Astrium astronaut is one of the coolest engaging way.” • Speed of Light Ltd on a range of education jobs ever. Keeping fit has been • Get on Your Space Bicycle Heather MacRae, Venture curriculum projects to inspire key to me being able to go into Thinking and the UK Co-ordinator students in STEM areas. Current space three times … and walk in Students gained skills in for Mission X explained: “We only projects include Mission X - Train space.” scientific reasoning and had a month to get Mission X off Like an Astronaut, Bridget teamwork while participating in Major Tim Peake, the first the ground after we were given Surfaces – outreach programme hands-on training missions British ESA astronaut, added, the ‘good to go’ by the UK Space for the Mars Rover, and Media targeting strength, endurance, “Exercise and eating right while Agency. The fact that the schools Space – a science coordination, balance, spatial you are young is so important. were so enthusiastic about communication project with The awareness, biology, chemistry Getting fit and staying fit helps getting involved, took on the Metro newspaper. Heather has and physics. you do what you want with your project and extended it is a sign worked closely with the life, even reaching for the stars!” Students enjoyed the hands- that the project has a really Parliamentary Space Committee on activities – especially activities inspirational and aspirational on the education themed Richard Garriott, the sixth that involved simulated urine, quality. All the schools involved Christmas receptions. private citizen to fly in Earth's testing bone strength using took the materials, adapted them orbit, and one of the Mission X 1 Essex Schools Involved are Mountfichet chocolate bars. to their students, and extended ambassadors, said, “I had to Maths and Computing College, Bentfield and enriched the science content Primary School, Elsenham Primary overcome major medical issues The pilot ended with an with art and music activities. It School, St. Mary’s Primary School, before I could get to space. astronaut graduation event – Birchanger Primary School, Henham and was great for the students to Being healthy and fit is important with students skyping with Major Ugley Primary School, Grove Primary speak live to Houston, and say School (Redbridge) to get into space and to enjoy Tim Peake and NASA Houston Houston, we have a success!” your time off-world.” and with parents learning more about nutrition, exercise and Jeremy Curtis from the UK The Mission X UK team took space alongside industry experts Space Agency is optimistic that part in a range of physical including Jeremy Curtis, Head of the UK will be able to take part activities and science activities Education and Outreach at the in the three year multi-year during the 6-week mission. Each UK Space Agency. programme proposed by NASA school organised their own as the next stages Jeremy said: training camps using the high The Mission has been a highly “Mission X has had a huge quality resources available on successful one – for students, impact. The UK Space Agency www.trainlikeanastronaut.org. parents, and teachers. Catherine showcased Mission X activities at Teachers and students were Anderson, Headteacher of the Big Bang Fair in March 2011. invited to submit team points, Mountfitchet Mathematics and We could see how exciting the post blog updates, pictures and Computing College commented: mission challenges were to the videos of their training and “It’s been a fabulous project general public and how they led download quizes, games and on many levels. It has enabled into some really exciting songs! our secondary school to work discussions about life in space. Much of the activity was closely with our feeder primary We were delighted when the completed in teams within a schools on a great hands-on Red Arrows team joined in on classroom setting but students project that pulls together some of the reaction and were set some interesting extra- science, PE, and healthy living teambuilding activities.”

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