Karratha students reach for the stars at space camp

Five students from Karratha Senior High School were given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity last week when they attended a space camp with NASA astronauts and scientists in Perth.

The camp, organised by the International Space School Educational Trust and Latitude Group Travel, gave WA students the chance to design a science experiment to be conducted in space.

The students were mentored by some of the space race’s biggest players, including NASA astronaut Steven Swanson, who has been into space twice on space shuttle missions and once as the commander of the International Space Station.

ISSET director Chris Barber said the ultimate perk of the camp was the winning team’s experiment would be launched into space from Cape Canaveral and carried out by astronauts on the space station.

“Every one of the 200 or so youngsters at the camp know they have the chance to be a participant in the biggest program humans have every put together,” he said.

The students from KSHS spent the week learning about NASA’s approach to team building and leadership; the environment of space; how to be creative both scientifically and technically; budgeting and planning; and improving presentation skills.

Mr Barber said the students from Karratha were nothing short of exceptional.

“They all contributed really well to their teams and putting presentations together,” he said. “They’ve been model students and all of the people in their town should be really proud of them.”

Karratha student Chloe Hornhardt was in a group which made it to finals, but was unable to take it all the way.