A group of 30 lucky Bradford College students returned to Earth with a bump after a trip of a lifetime to study science and engineering in Texas and Florida.
The Level 2 and 3 Science and Computing students spent 13 days working at the likes of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston and the Kennedy Space Center in Orlando and even watched the history-making Artemis II shuttle launch.
Organised by Visions in Education, the trip started with a flight from London Heathrow to Houston, Texas. After a night settling in, the students visited NASA’s Johnson Space Center and got to work as teams building two-stage rockets, heat shields, and cryogenic-resistant environments.
School/college: Bradford College
Subjects: Science and computing
KS: 5
Number of pupils: 30
The following day, the teams launched their rockets, visited the control room used for the Apollo missions, and saw the Saturn V rocket. In the afternoon, the group had a fascinating talk with Andrejez Stewart, who spent a year living in a simulated Mars habitat to research and inform future Mars missions. Student teams then designed their own Mars habitat, with the winning design displayed publicly.
On day four, the group enjoyed a hands-on robotics session, programming a space rover using Scratch to follow a specific course, before testing their heat shields and cryogenic habitats with liquid nitrogen.
Ensuring all students get the same opportunities
Andrew Ridley-Ellis, head of science & academic support for science & digital at Bradford College, said: “This brilliant group of young people had experiences that will stay with them for a lifetime. From meeting real astronauts who were testing spacesuits and training in zero-gravity, to seeing scientists working on the commercial space station that will follow the ISS, this trip was truly transformational.
“My goal has always been to ensure that all students get the same opportunities, regardless of background or circumstances. Some of these students come from areas with the highest levels of deprivation in the UK, and seven even had to apply for their first-ever passport! A trip like this would be impossible for many of them, so being able to offer this opportunity has been an absolute delight.
“Thanks to the hard work of Gail Holmes at Bradford College, we were able to secure generous funding from the Turing Scheme. Boosted by a wonderful Bradford College contribution, costs were covered for this life-changing trip. All our students embraced this incredible opportunity, and I was so proud of them all. Everyone we met told us what a credit they were to Bradford College.”
Experiences to stay with them for a lifetime
One of the many highlights from the study trip was scuba diving in a specially designed pool to experience weightlessness. The intrepid group undertook underwater robotic surveys simulating the surface of the moon and experienced first-hand the challenges of performing even the simplest tasks in altered gravity. The final day at NASA included a Starship Gallery tour, a talk from real astronaut Commander Ken Cameron, and presentations and a team medal ceremony.
“I learned how to properly communicate ideas with my team clearly and effectively while also learning how to collaborate with them and branch myself out socially, which I would not have done if I did not go.”
Student Rahees
On the last day in Houston, the students took a trip to Armand Bayou Nature Center for creek netting, alligator handling, and a Bayou safari trip through the Everglades, before transferring to Orlando the next day to start the second leg of the incredible adventure.
Two days were then spent at Universal Studios Florida undertaking a specialist STEM education programme, including ‘Jurassic World VelociCoaster: Breaking Down the DNA’ and ‘Kongtrol Panel!’ – designing a rollercoaster and programming an automated car ride.
The culmination of the study programme was an inspiring trip to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Here, students visited the Space Shuttle Atlantis®, undertook a shuttle launch experience, visited the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame®, and had an IMAX cinema and astronaut encounter.
“When I left to go to the USA, it helped me experience a once-in-a-life opportunity and gave me chance to see Artemis II. It also helped me explore different opportunities, if I want to go into that side of work, and experience the differences in other cultures and lifestyles.”
Student Ali
The visit to Orlando was also timed to coincide with the launch of Artemis II. The lucky group took a short trip nine miles away from the launch site, where students and staff got an eye-opening view of the phenomenal rocket take-off. The following day, students saw the actual Artemis II launch site, launch pad 39, and saw the transporter and gantry that held the rocket in place the day before.
