Ayrshire College Foundation Newsletter Autumn 2017 - lssue 3 | Page 2

MISSION
DISCOVERY
MISSION DISCOVERY
LAUNCH
The International Space School Educational
Trust’s (ISSET) Mission Discovery Ayrshire 2017
programme began on Monday 19 June with 150
secondary school pupils taking part.
The S5 and S6 pupils from schools acrosss Ayrshire worked
in mixed teams to design a suitable experiment to be
tested at the International Space Station in 2018.
Following the success of last year’s Mission Discovery, this
incredible opportunity was made available for students and
East, North and South Ayrshire secondary school pupils
due to sponsorship from the Ayrshire College Foundation.
Allied to the objectives of Ayrshire College, the Foundation
provides financial support for Ayrshire-based projects that
provide educational opportunities for all age groups.
Ayrshire College students were involved in the space
school as mentors alongside local employers, teachers
and lecturers. Local aeronautical businesses NATS and the
Glasgow Prestwick Spaceport also sponsored the
main programme.
Tracey Stark, Chair of the Ayrshire College Foundation, said
“The Mission Discovery programme provides a once in a
lifetime opportunity for Ayrshire pupils and students to
engage with NASA leaders.”
Lainshaw Primary Visit
Pupils piled into the assembly hall at Lainshaw Primary
School, Stewarton to hear astronaut Michael Foale talk
about his six Space Shuttle missions, and his time on the
Russian Mir and International Space Station. They were
impressed by the videos Michael showed on how to eat,
drink and float in space.
When he finished his presentation and asked for any
questions, just about every hand in the room shot up
faster than Michael’s rocket ever did.
It was a wonderful experience for Lainshaw Primary School
who showed their appreciation at the end of the day with
a thunderous round of applause for their space hero.
Michael visited the school to thank them for the highest
number of entries to the mission patch competition.