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Report from DERA on their World Space Week 2000 Programme:
DERA Space held some special events to mark World Space Week. Our aim was to promote space research and applications to the public and to give young people a chance to see that
there are interesting science, technology and engineering careers for them in the space industry.
A rocket competition was held for high school students in the area. 115 students and 22 teachers spent the day at DERA's Space Dept. They began with a short introduction to the
department and what we do. This was followed by a short talk on building rockets, including a demonstration burn of a hybrid rocket motor with liquid oxygen flowing through a clear, hollow, perspex fuel
rod. 21 teams then had 4 hours to build their own rockets. They were each given two different kits and extra parts; the rockets could be as innovative as they liked but had to launch and safely return a
raw egg in a single stage rocket. Each team left with a certificate and prizes were awarded for Best Rocket, Best Teamwork, and Most Style.
DERA Space also sponsored a junior school trip to the Challenger Learning Centre for 35 students and 4 teachers. The students undertook a simulated space mission. An inflatable
planetarium was sent to the School for the rest of the students to learn about stars, planets and constellations.>
Reported by Kotska Wallace, Remote Sensing Systems and Instruments, Room 1004, DERA Space, Farnborough, Hampshire, GU14 OLX, U.K., Tel: +44 1252 394424, Fax: +44 1252
396320, Email: kmwallace@scs.dera.gov.uk
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