This morning we took off to the National Space Centre on the Andrews Fireball XL5 (OK, a double-decker) for our whole school trip. There was a lot of excitement on the journey down and we were greeted with a visual feast as we walked through the door. First up, we had a couple of workshops focussing on Rocket Science and Food in Space that provided a wealth of information to our budding astronauts.
After a quick lunch, we were set free on the various exhibits and activities on offer and split up into groups to explore the landscape. With areas dedicated to all aspects of space there was lots to see and learn about. A stop off in the cinema dome gave us an insight into the fascination about the universe held by mankind with a jaw-dropping animation that filled the huge ceiling above. A few of us were dizzy, but we all left amazed and a more knowledgeable nonetheless.
It was then off to explore again, and as you can see from the photo show below, we got to see a considerable amount and enjoyed every minute of it.
Then, with about an hour to go of our visit, came an event straight out of Apollo 13 – however, it was more “Leicester, we have a problem!” than Houston, as there was a large power-cut that seemed to affect the whole local area. They had to close down and evacuate the building, a great shame. So we boarded the capsule for the return voyage (OK, the double-decker again!) and with a considerable amount of singing came splashing back to Earth.
Ready for a ton of photos?
5……4……3……2……1……GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Photos by all the staff
Whatever you do, don’t press this…..
There’s always one!
Now look what you’ve done!
What does this one do?
Houston – someone’s let all the air out – HELP!
Rocket Designer
Rocket Designer
Rocket Designer
Rocket Designer
Rocket Designers
Launching the models into space
Planning an astronaut’s diet
Planning an astronaut’s diet
Flash freezing children – cool
Flash freezing children – cool
Flash freezing children – cool
Flash freezing children – cool
Flash freezing children – cool
Flash freezing children – cool
Flash freezing children – cool
You’ll have to blow harder than that
Tempting
Watch it grow
How many children can you fit in a capsule?
Poor Clanger
Mercury was a bit worried
Hanging out on Saturn’s rings
Beans in Space
Feeling Meteorites
Crawling between modules
Some of them slid
Arty metal things
I want one of these
Just like Star Trek
Building Space
Strange happy creature
Strange giggly creature
Strange smiley creature
Watch out – HOT SURFACE
The 1st Reception on the Moon
Come on, there’s less gravity!
Happiest spaceman ever
Do you trust this pilot?
Very impressive suits
Junior rocket builders
Helen Sharman’s actual suit
An ISS module
This is easy!
To answer the question – yes
Press them all
Gravity wells
Trainee astronauts
Communicating from Mars
Jumping on the Moon
This is how we got here
This is a, er, thing
Successful launch
A very large spacecraft!
We really wanted to go to Floor 2
Another huge rocket
In the command module
Mission Control
Attempting to launch
Houston – we have a problem
Spaced Man
Unconcerned Man
Concerned Man
Confident Man
Fly me to the Moon…
Mrs Parkin’s Moon Landing Theory
Big Swirly Ball
Great photos and write up! Really lovely to see what you all did today! Thanks for keeping us up to date, much appreciated!