On Monday 17th March 2025, nearly sixteen thousand students from around the UK joined the Rockets for All celebration event with Helen Sharman, the UK’s first astronaut, and explored the possibilities of a career in space.
Helen shared her journey from working at the Mars chocolate bar factory to being in a rocket right around the corner from Mars. She discussed the selection process and training as well as paths current students might take to pursue a career in the space industry. We were all fascinated by Helen’s experience in space but also her continued investigation into what exists beyond earth and how our quality of life can be improved based on those findings. Brilliant conversation arose, students created interactive “word clouds” and were able to hop on camera to ask Helen their burning questions.
With detailed stories and photos from her space expedition, Helen’s insight and experience gave students an all too rare window into working in the space sector. A particularly engaging discussion arose from Helen describing the “g” force equaling 5g (or 5 times the weight of gravity on earth) when descending from outer space back to Earth. Students learned about the necessary preparations and precautions involved in human space travel, not only as it pertains to gravity but also in considering things such as breathable air, the human circulatory system and micro-organisms or “bugs” that might be traveling to space too! As always, the chat box was full of lovely questions and comments:
“Did you find it difficult to walk when you first returned to Earth and stepped out of the rocket?” – Andreia aged 9, Larkspur Community Academy
“Thank you very much, Helen and Lottie! Cherry Orchard have really enjoyed listening and you have definitely inspired Year 5.”
“Helen and Big Ideas, thank you so much for a fantastic experience. This has been excellent and so enjoyable. Thank you from Thornsett Primary”
“Wow, that was out of this world! Thank you from Durness Primary”
Helen also had the pleasure of announcing the winners of our UK-wide water rocket competition: Gleniffer High School in Scotland and Brighton Aldridge Community Academy in England. We can’t wait to have these students participate in their very own in-person experience with Imperial Space Lab.
A special thank you to Helen Sharman, Imperial Space Lab, The UK Space Agency and Water Rokit. The next generation of astronauts, engineers and scientists have a bright future ahead and we’re confident we’ve met many of them over the course of Rockets For All. Next stop Mars!
Be sure to come say hello when Big Ideas gathers with Imperial College’s bright new inventors as part of The Great Exhibition Road Festival, June 2025! Exciting activities for all ages!