Politics

UTC Leeds hosts week of rocket-themed activities

Pupils at UTC Leeds have met experts from NASA who taught them how to design and launch space vehicles during a week of rocket-themed activities.

312 students and 158 visiting primary school pupils took part in Rockets Week, hosted at the UTC, meeting experts from space, technology and engineering backgrounds who hosted interactive workshops.

Some pupils got to design experiments that might be carried out on a NASA mission into space, while others attended demonstrations on the chemistry of rocket propellants and the way the angle at which a rocket is launched can affect the height and distance it travels.

Representatives came from NASA, the International Space University and CERN, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research. The chief executive of Starchaser Industries, Steve Bennett, even brought along an eight-metre rocket which he parked in the college’s car park.

“We are thrilled that so many world-renowned experts have shared their knowledge with us to inspire the next generation of engineers,” said Mark Kennedy, the UTC’s principal. “Our students develop cutting-edge technical skills because employers and industry experts work with them as part of the curriculum preparing them for exciting careers. This initiative is testament to that.”

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