Rocket wows pupils (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Rocket wows pupils

Peter Stayer of the Starchaser team with pupilsSTARSTRUCK pupils at Malmesbury School were given a glimpse on Monday of the largest rocket ever to be launched from mainland Britain.

The unmanned NOVA/Starchaser 4 rocket, which stands at 50ft tall, weighs about half a tonne and travels at 500mph, was launched from Morecambe Bay in November 2001.

Students at Malmesbury School, a specialist science and performing arts college, were given an up-close look at the rocket, as well as being treated to talks from a team of Starchaser engineers.

The day was aimed mainly at the school's Year 7 pupils, although each year group was given a talk about the rocket.

As well as hearing the presentations, the engineers also treated the students to a series of video clips of its 2001 launch.

As an added bonus, the Starchaser team showed the children a four-minute computerised animation clip, which showed them what it would be like to launch into space and land back on earth.

Headteacher John Barrett said: "Most of our kids really enjoy science anyway, but having things like this in does bring that sort of spiritual element and this wow factor, which makes them think about a possible career in science. It's a change from the usual."

As part of the event, the Year 7 pupils made their own paper rockets, which were launched in the school's main yard using a foot pump.

The school plans to hold similar days in the future and is looking into the possibility of bringing a hot air balloon in for the day.