Sixteen year 7 and 8 students from Bucklands Beach Intermediate School, together with four staff members, have travelled to the United States to visit NASA’s headquarters in Houston, Texas.
They studied at the prestigious United States Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
The trip – taken in December – followed a year’s work from teachers, students and the school community.
Windy White, the teacher in charge of the trip, said, “BBI students have the potential to be pathfinders and trailblazers of this day and age.
“Providing challenging and exciting opportunities for our students is critical in allowing this to happen.”
This was the genesis of organising BBI’s inaugural trip to space camp.
The two week-long expedition was a trip of a lifetime for students and staff.
“The astronaut mission simulations were incredible,” one BBI student reported.
“Being able to work in mission control during the mission to Mars simulation taught me so much.”
“Being able to visit the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston was definitely a highlight.
“I loved being able to see all the various rockets and equipment that has been used to take humans into space.” said another BBI student.
“I was so excited to learn that New Zealand’s Rocket Lab is also playing a part in helping humans return to the moon in the Artemis programme,” said another.
“We might be a small country, but we’re also playing an active role in space exploration.
“Who knows, maybe a Kiwi will be part of the first mission to Mars.”
“Bucklands Beach Intermediate School prides itself on building globally aware, independent lifelong learners who take risks to build their understanding of the world around them,” said White.
“This expedition to Space Camp and NASA has been an exciting addition to the wide range of experiences BBI can offer.
“Planning and preparation has begun in hopes of sending future groups very soon.”
