Students from 13 schools from across the North East of England are this week taking part in the latest Space Camp from Team Athena, the UK’s national team in space.
Sixty students from across year 6 and 12 from schools in Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland and Sunderland, are taking part in the half-term programme, which launched yesterday at the National Innovation Centre for Data in Newcastle.
Formed by CGI, Inmarsat, Lockheed Martin UK and Serco, Team Athena has partnered with the National Space Academy to deliver an immersive experience for pupils on the world of space, bringing together a mixture of engaging talks alongside live demonstrations, experiments, team projects and presentations. The aim is to provide a deeper understanding of what a career in STEM looks like from a technical and academic point of view, showcasing the different pathways into this field.
RTC North, Northumbria University and Invest North East have been coordinating with local schools to invite them along supporting the establishment of this space camp throughout the entire process.
Nik Smith, Regional Director of UK & Europe, Lockheed Martin Space said, “We are excited to be here in Newcastle for the latest Space Camp event. We are committed to providing young people an insight into the world of STEM and delighted to team up with some amazing leaders to showcase how the UK is one of the most innovative and attractive space economies in the world.”
Nusrat Ghani MP, Minister for Science and Investment Security said, “As we gear up to host the first European satellite launch here on UK soil later this year, there is no denying that our £16bn space sector is one of the most exciting and fast-growing fields for our future economy.
“To ensure the future of this booming sector, it’s essential that the next generation is equipped with the skills required for thriving careers in the space industry. That’s why programmes like Team Athena’s Space Camp are so important both in supporting our ambitions to boost skills and development across all four corners of the UK, and in securing our reputation as a science superpower.”
Athena is committed to harnessing its expertise and global presence to help grow a diverse and resilient space sector in the UK and deliver the growth and development ambitions set out in the National Space Strategy. Athena’s members’ expertise as world leaders in providing technology and services across defence, space, communications and information technology to governments, businesses and other organisations, enables them to provide students with a greater familiarity of the career opportunities in both civil and military domains related to space.
The camp is a build on the success of the camps held over the summer at Space Park Leicester as well as from previous programmes Athena and its members have held, such as the Serco Space Week held in 2021.