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Video: 12 metre rocket in playground inspires Headingley pupils
Pupils from a Headingley primary school joined the space race after a 12-metre high rocket landed in their playground.
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Children from Shire Oak (C of E) Primary School in Headingley celebrated their annual Science Week by taking a closer look at the 3,200mph Skybolt rocket, which will be blasted into space in around two
years time.
Pupils had the chance to ask questions about the rocket, which can reach a height of 83 miles, while scientists from Space4Schools – the company behind the Skybolt – also helped them to build their own spacecrafts.
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Headteacher, Mark Edwards, said: "All the children have been really excited and producing a high level of work.
"Just today, one child came up to me and showed me a rocket he'd built at home with his parents.
"It's great that the pupils are taking their learning outside of school and bringing what they've done at home back in."
Earlier this week, 100 rockets were launched in the school playground as the pupils paired up to build their own space vehicles.
The Space4Schools team also blasted a one-metre Starchaser rocket high into the sky, which floated back to earth on a parachute.
Year 2 pupil Joe Gibson, seven, said his favourite part of Science Week was launching his own rocket into the Headingley orbit.
Classmate Lucy Hemming, also seven, said: "We've been learning all the facts about space and drawing pictures of rockets. It's been really fun."
Taylor Rogers, six, said: "I definitely want to go into space now. I want to travel in a rocket and see all the moons."
The Skybolt was brought to Leeds by Space4Schools, which is the educational arm of space tourism firm Starchaser Industries.
Educational presenter Matt Shewbridge, who talked to the children about the Skybolt, said: "We're telling the kids about the rocket because we're trying to show them that the space industry and space tourism is real – and it's happening now.
"We want them to aspire to work in our industry, understand the value of science and maths and get really exciting jobs in the future."
* For more information about Space4Schools and the Skybolt, visit: www.space4schools.co.uk
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Weather for Leeds
Tuesday 22 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North east
