FOUR students from Castle Rushen High School have won an all expenses paid trip to an Isle of Man satellite company's headquarters in Europe.
The Department of Education and Children teamed up with Douglas based company SES Satellite Leasing Ltd to launch a competition during World Space Week in October.
Teams of students from year seven to nine used project packs provided by SES in science lessons and clubs to launch their own rocket.
The competition prompted students to think about the future of satellites and the environmental issues surrounding their launch.
Twelve teams' submitted projects in total. The winning team "The Girl and Co" consisted of year nine students Josh Caple, 14, Jordanne Kennaugh, 13, Kitto Maddrell, 13, and Jim Gale, 13.
Their prize was a trip to the SES headquarters in Luxembourg, where satellites are flown and monitored, dropping in to the London teleport en route.
Mark Guthrie, managing director at SES, told the group: "We were knocked out by how professional your project was. Some of the ideas you came up with were fantastic especially relating to the satellites of the future.
"Your project is a credit to yourself, your teachers, and your school because you've obviously put a lot of hard work into it."
The students spent 50 hours' working on their project in three weeks and were supported by their science teacher Ray Garrett.
The team said: "It is amazing that we have won a trip to Luxembourg and we are really excited. But we are not sure that we're ready to launch a satellite just yet as we haven't yet mastered landing skills...as a neighbouring tree discovered in our rocket launch experiment. Just kidding – where's that control panel?"
Andrew Cole, headteacher of Castle Rushen High School, said: "The students worked extensively in their own time to complete the details of their submission. Their win is thoroughly deserved following a generous commitment of time and effort to this project.
"The link with SES Satellite Leasing Ltd has made a concrete and valued contribution to the development of these students both through their knowledge of related technologies and the progress they have made in their interpersonal and team skills."
Jo Callister, advisory teacher for the Manx Curriculum, said: "The enthusiasm shown by secondary students towards this competition has been outstanding. It is clear from the high standard of the entries that students have embraced the project.
"Local companies are playing a leading role in the space industry and it is fantastic that through various space-related education initiatives students' imaginations are being captured and they are gaining a greater understanding of its importance to our Island."
Also see: Island space company encourages students to take an interest in the space industry
