This year, the students were lucky enough to watch a SpaceX launch, as their Falcon 9 rocket launched 60 more satellites into orbit, as part of the space transportation services company’s ambition to fill the low Earth orbit with satellite, ensuring internet connectivity across the entire world. The launch was delayed by one day, so the group managed to experience it on their first day in Florida!
Another key moment of the 2020 Space Education Adventure was meeting with British NASA Propulsion Engineer John Tribe whilst at the American Space Museum in Titusville, Florida. John was there by coincidence and gave an impassioned talk to the students about his work on the Apollo missions, including details of the tragic Apollo 1 mission.
the 2020 visit to Space Center’s in Texas and Florida was a ‘blast’ for all of the students that earned their place on the trip, and we are so excited to see what surprises are in store for next year’s trip, due to take place in February 2021!
Below are some photo galleries of the 2020 adventure.
Houston, Texas: Aspirations students working on their group media projects in the conference room of the hotel.
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- Hotel conference room
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- Hotel conference room
Houston, Texas: Tour of the Rice University campus and an astrophysics lecture delivered by Professor David Alexander OBE.
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- Students on the Rice University campus
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- Students on the Rice University campus
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- Rice University
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- Budmouth Academy students
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- Magna Academy students
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- Rivers Academy students
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- Presidential seal from JFK’s speech
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- Space Studio students
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- Banbury campus students
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- William Rice statue
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- Students with William Rice statue
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- Students at the famous Rice University arch
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- Rice University
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- Lecture from Professor David Alexander
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- Students with Professor David Alexander
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- Students in Rice lecture hall
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- Students with William Rice statue
Johnson Space Center, Houston: Behind-the-scenes tour of Johnson Space Center delivered by Ginger Kerrick, the first Hispanic female NASA Flight Director, and visit of the tourist areas of the Space Center.
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- Building Nine
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- Building Nine
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- Building Nine
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- Building Nine
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- Building Nine
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- Building Nine
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- Building Nine
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- Rocket at Johnson Space Center
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- Saturn V at Johnson Space Center
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- Mike delivering talk at Saturn V
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- Students with Saturn V
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- Rivers Academy students with Saturn V
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- Space Studio students with Saturn V
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- Magna Academy students with Saturn V
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- Budmouth Academy students with Saturn V
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- Banbury Campus students with Saturn V
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- Back of Saturn V rocket
Titusville, Florida: Visit to the Veterans Memorial Park to watch the SpaceX rocket launch, then on to tour the American Space Museum with a special talk from NASA Propulsion Engineer, John Tribe.
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- SpaceX launch
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- Henry and Louise being interviewed by a U.S. online broadcaster
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- American Space Museum
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- American Space Museum
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- Mission Control at the American Space Museum
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- The students exploring the American Space Museum
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- The students practicing using air rockets
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- Bust of President John F. Kennedy
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- The students with the bust of President John F. Kennedy
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- Veterans Memorial Park
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- John Tribe, British Propulsion Engineer at NASA
Kennedy Space Center, Florida: Jim and Theresa Kinney take the group to Launchpad 39B as part of an extended behind-the-scenes tour of Kennedy Space Center in Merritt Island, Florida.
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- The Greyhound bus that transported the group around the base
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- The students at Launchpad 39B
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- Jim and Theresa Kinney with SEA leaders Mike and Rich
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- The view from on top of the Launchpad
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- Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at Kennedy Space Center
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- Inside the Vehicle Assembly Building
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- Louise using the NASA virtual reality equipment
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- Banbury Campus students in the Kennedy museum
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- Mission Control at the Kennedy tourist centre
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- Magna Academy students in the Kennedy tourist centre
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- Budmouth Academy students in the Kennedy tourist centre
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- Astronaut Brian Duffy signing his autograph for Aspirations
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- Aspirations students at the Kennedy Rocket Park
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- A rocket at the Kennedy Rocket Park
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- Aspirations students at Launchpad 29B
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- Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center
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- Saturn V at Kennedy Space Center
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- Space Shuttle Atlantis
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- Space Shuttle Atlantis
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- Vehicle Assembly Building
Across Texas and Florida: In the evenings, the students had the opportunity to eat with people that currently work at NASA, and could ask for advice and discuss their own experiences working at the organisation.
Where next