The final frontier

STAR gazers . . . pupils, from left, Rochelle Simms, Helena Begum, Demi Atkinson, Lewis Wood, Joe Chappell, Leonie Glynn, Jennifer Collier, Ben Abbott and Edward Courtnell with the rocket

Pupils join countdown to rocket’s big launch

PUPILS got the chance to get involved in Europe’s largest ever rocket blasting into space.

Starchaser, Britain’s only commercial rocket research and development company, based in Hyde, displayed its latest NOVA 2 design at Royton and Crompton School.

And the company is giving children at the specialist science college the opportunity of a lifetime to become involved in contributing to the rocket’s payload when it’s launched from Morecambe Bay in November.

The cargo could include signed cards, models, mementos, names and signatures of everyone in school.

There will be a competition in school to decide what should be sent, with the winners having the chance to be involved in viewing the launch.

A pupil who designs the winning NOVA 2 Mission emblem could also win the opportunity to press the launch button.

Starchaser is working towards the creation of a totally reusable rocket system that can safely launch tourists into space.

Its team conducted a number of presentations at Royton and Crompton and displayed the Starchaser Nova 2 to help raise the profile of science and technology based subjects.

Founder Steve Bennett said Starchaser’s Space4Schools programmes cover subjects ranging from rocket propulsion to exploration of the solar system to expand the educational experience. Assistant head teacher Sally Ogden said: “We are excited by the visit of the Starchaser team to school. Royton and Crompton pupils are soaring to success and this rocket will give a great boost to scientific study.”