SIX students from Uxbridge and Feltham witnessed the historic launch of the Space X Falcon 9 rocket from Cocoa Beach, Florida, last week.

The sixth-formers are pupils at Aspirations academies in west London: Park Academy in

Uxbridge and Rivers Academy and Space Studio West London, Feltham.

Earlier in the school year, they submitted their applications as part of a competitive process across the trust’s six senior schools, the others of which are based in Dorset and

Oxfordshire.

Selected for their curiosity and interest as well as their academic ability, the students had their costs met entirely by Aspirations Academies Trust.

Trip co-leader Simon Sterland said, “We take students who are going to get something out of the experience, whether that be in terms of their academic or personal development.

“The trip to NASA is often life-changing and it’s always unique, depending on NASA’s launch services programme.

“We were very fortunate to have witnessed the launch of PACE, especially since its scheduled launch was delayed.”

Students watched from Cocoa Beach, next to the Kennedy Space Centre, as PACE was launched.

It is a satellite mission to study ocean health, air quality and the effects of climate change.

Park Academy student Callum said: “Standing on the beach in the middle of the night watching the flashing lights from Cape Canaveral… I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited!”

Fellow sixth former, Amber, added: “When Falcon 9 blasted off it was like watching the sun rising at speed. And then the sky went black again and all you could hear was the rocket.

"When it reappeared, heading back to Cape Canaveral, it looked like it might land on us!”

The students also visited schools, toured the American Space Museum, Kennedy Visitor Complex and Cape Canaveral Space Force Museum and enjoyed socialising with NASA engineers and scientists.”

Park Academy principal Suvi Mohey added, “We are very proud of the way Callum and

Amber engaged with this wonderful learning opportunity and represented our school.”

To read more about the trip, visit: https://www.aspirationsacademies.org/news/aspirations-space-adventurers-report-from-florida/