International Space Station Calls Northern Ireland Students
Astronauts advise local learners to aim high
Astronauts onboard the International Space Station today swapped space walks for careers talks as they teamed up with high-flying students at South West College in Enniskillen.
A group of six specialists on the high-tech satellite, which is orbiting 220 miles above Earth, took time from complex space operations to encourage learners to aim high and fulfil career ambitions.
During the rare radio contact, participants had a chance to put questions directly to the Station Commander and Flight Engineers in real time and hear how they gained senior positions in space exploration.
Mamraz Nagi, Careers Officer at South West College, said he hoped the exciting link up would inspire students to keep pursuing their career goals.
“This project has been about flaring imaginations and showing that ambition and determination can bring extraordinary results. It’s not every day that students have the chance to speak with people whose work is literally out of this world,” he said.
“The fact is that competition for jobs is getting tougher and for anyone starting out in their chosen field it is critical to stay motivated and focused on achieving their goals. Even astronauts have had to combine hard graft with natural talent to clinch their roles.”
The rare opportunity followed more than six months of careful planning and collaboration between South West College, NASA and Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS).
Malachy McAleer, Director at South West College, said:
“This is a genuine once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our students and a landmark achievement for the college. ARISS receives countless proposals each week from groups and organisations across the globe, but it has only a few contact opportunities on each space station mission.
“Every day our careers team provide world-class guidance and support to more than 20,000 students across our four campuses. Their ability to motivate and inspire is an example of how we are committed to giving our students the best learning experiences with creative thinking and innovative partnerships.”
During the ‘downlink’ contact, students asked questions about life on the station and recent operations including one of the longest-ever moonwalks which was undertaken last week and took more than eight hours to complete.
The International Space Station is a joint international effort between space agencies in Canada, Europe, Japan, USA and Russia. Construction began in 1998 and is scheduled to be completed in mid-2012 following which it will remain in operation until 2028.
