One giant leap for Irish teachers at NASA centre

THREE Irish science teachers got a taste of what it’s like to walk on the moon when they spent a week at an astronaut-training centre in the United States.

Helen Corbett, Chris Garvey and Joanne Raftery left their schools behind at the end of June to take part in a scholarship programme with 140 of their peers from 17 countries at the US Space & Rocket Centre.

As well as a series of classes, lab exercises and demonstrations, the group got to test some of the simulators used by astronauts during their training with NASA.

"One of the simulators allowed us experience the one-sixth gravity felt on the moon's surface, it was amazing," said Joanne Raftery who teaches at St Mary's College in Arklow, Co Wicklow.

Joanne, Chris a teacher at Loreto Secondary School in Balbriggan, Co Dublin and Helen from Arklow Community College were flown to the centre in Huntsville Alabama after being chosen from 500 worldwide applicants for the prestigious Space Academy for educators.

"The stuff we learned was fantastic, like something out of MacGyver on TV. We made rockets from a mineral bottle, a piece of cardboard and a pump," said Joanne.

"The best thing is that these are all hands-on experiments we can teach the students back in our schools and try and generate more interest in science subjects," she said.

The trio was funded by the international technology and manufacturing company, Honeywell, which has a plant in Arklow.

Joanne was one of a small number of participants who was awarded a further scholarship during her week at the Space & Rocket Centre. But it will be one of the girls from her school who will benefit, with a free week at the centre's Space Camp next year and flights paid for by Honeywell.

In the hope of sending a friend with the yet-to-be-selected student, Joanne is hoping to raise financial support to cover the travel and tuition costs for a second girl from St Mary's College.