Astronauts' mission inspires pupils
Updated on 06 July 2009
The US crew of the space shuttle Discovery have embarked on an educational mission to inspire Britain's budding astronauts.
The Nasa team of shuttle STS-119 recently returned from the International Space Station and plan to impart first-hand information to young people about their work in orbit.
Manchester's Museum of Science & Industry was the first stop on the UK tour for the crew, who were brought to this country by the International Space School Educational Trust.
The astronauts met around 800 schoolchildren from across Greater Manchester to speak about their space experiences, from eating and sleeping to walking.
Astronaut Mission Commander Lee Archambault said the aim was to encourage young people from inner city areas to fulfil their ambitions, and to promote the study of science, engineering and maths.
"Often in major metropolitan areas space travel and space exploration doesn't get a lot of the media attention it did 40 years ago when we put the first man on the moon, so we want to share that experience with as many schoolchildren as we can.
"We want to show these kids that if they study hard and learn their maths and science they'll have a future in space if that's what they want to do."
Children attending the events devised their own 'lunar lunches' which would be suitable for consumption in space, and heard about the challenges of moving around in orbit.
Henry Cowell, 10, from St Francis primary school in Gorton, Greater Manchester, said he was beginning to consider a future career as an astronaut.
"I'm thinking about it more and more by the passing second. It looks like a really nice job to do. It's just amazing to meet guys who've been in space, and have our questions answered."
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