The National Space Centre – Leicester

As part of the Year 7 and 8 space module, GGSK college arranged a trip to the National Space Centre in Leicester. We left early and got there in high spirits ready to explore the centre.

The centre was divided into sections related to the exploration of space, from the beginning BIG BANG theory to infra red cameras that showed body heat and mock weather trials.

The students were given an assignment to work in groups to answers scientific questions, often more advanced than they are expected to know at this level. What is Plancks constant? Who was Hubble? What is electromagnetic radiation?, All students had an excellent time running around finding out facts and learning about our solar system and the universe.

We had planned to use the simulator but unfortunately it had broken down, but we made good use of the other interactive simulations. Some students tried using a crane to collect moon rock, the days record was broken by Parampreet Kaur from yr 7 who beat everyone who had tried the activity at the centre that day. The space chair was popular with all the students, the chair was cushioned on air and was directed using shorts burst of air to navigate it just like in space.It was a lot more difficult than it looked but we still managed a decent score.

The highlight of the trip was the planetarium, a huge dome, with a 3D show about astronauts, their training and living in space. The experience was amazing, often one felt part of the space station and sometimes we had the sensation of floating or being swung around in the training capsule.

We finally had to leave and got back to school ready to go home at 7 pm.