Rocket science all in a day of learning

The Southland Times (New Zealand): Rocket science all in a day of learning
Makarewa School pupils received a crash-course lesson about space rockets yesterday in a flying visit from a French space agent.

Michel Debeir, European Space Agency exploitation and launch range department administrator, visited the school for about an hour to teach the pupils about rockets, how they enter space and their purposes.

The agent's talk coincides with the expected launch of an Ariane 5 rocket carrying an automated transfer vehicle (ATV) into space today, which Mr Debeir will supervise from the Awarua Tracking Station, near Invercargill.

The rocket was scheduled to launch yesterday but was delayed because of an oxygen sensor malfunction.

It is being launched from Kourou, French Guiana, and will pass over New Zealand about midday before separating from the ATV, which will orbit the earth again before heading to the International Space Station. Mr Debeir told the pupils the unmanned ATV would take about a week to reach the station and was being used to refuel the space station with things such as food, water, air and equipment.

Space was one answer to many problems mankind faced and so it was important for young people to learn about physics and chemistry, he said.

Makarewa teacher Gabrielle Canny said the pupils were already being taught about solar systems at school so it was great to get firsthand expert experience.

"They haven't stopped talking about it all day," she said.

He talked about the ATV and Ariane 5 and brought it down to a level the children could understand, which was great, she said.

Venture Southland enterprise and strategic projects group manager Steve Canny, who has been working with Mr Debier while in Southland, said he was a key person in the development of the Ariane 5 so he was honoured to have him in the region.