STEM education lands at Spaceport Cornwall

The 72ft UKSA rocket replica has returned to Spaceport Cornwall after a successful ‘Space For Everyone’ tour of the UK last summer. The rocket will be part of Cornwall Spaceport’s free space exhibition. Schools are invited to book educational tours for children to see the rocket and learn about careers in space.

The 72ft replica rocket that toured the UK last summer is now back at Spaceport Cornwall, Newquay, where it will serve as a valuable learning tool to engage and educate local schoolchildren and the wider community in the benefits and opportunities of space system.

The rocket, a prominent feature of the UK Space Agency’s Space for Everyone tour, which attracted more than 100,000 visitors to 13 cities in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland between June and October 2023, is now home to the Spaceport Cornwall, thanks to the United Kingdom. Space Agency.

Ahead of Space Exploration Day on Saturday 20 July, which commemorates the historic moon landing and man’s first steps on the moon in 1969, Spaceport Cornwall has announced that the rocket will form part of a free space exhibition which aims to inspire future generations of space enthusiasts and highlights the varied career paths available in Cornwall’s thriving STEM sector.

The team at Spaceport Cornwall are now looking forward to welcoming school children to join them on educational tours where they will be able to get up close to the rocket and learn about the historic horizontal launch which took place in January 2023 and what the future holds for Cornwall Spaceport and Space.

The tours will last 1.5 hours and include visits to the spaceport’s clean rooms and an exploration of satellite technology, where students will learn what satellites are used for and how we get them into space, in addition to learning about space careers and how art and creativity fit into the equation.

Fritha Durham, Education and Outreach Coordinator at Spaceport Cornwall: “There is so much potential and opportunity in Cornwall at the moment for young people to have rewarding careers in the space industry and wider STEM sectors without having to move from the county. The rocket is a fantastic asset that will enable us to inspire and engage young minds in the world of STEM.”

Matt Archer, Director of Launch at the UK Space Agency, said: “The display of the replica rocket at Spaceport Cornwall will once again support local community outreach and inspire the next generation of professionals for the South West Space Cluster. Through initiatives like the Space For Everyone Tour we aim to inspire a future workforce with the skills and knowledge to drive innovation and growth in the UK space industry.”