“Reaching Outwards, Growing Minds, Building Futures.”
This is the vision of Parklands College’s new Science, Technology, Aerospace and Robotics (Star) programme set to prepare the next generation of learners, who will be inspired and equipped to take mankind beyond the realms of our planet.
“Watch this ‘space’,” the school says.
Privately owned aerospace companies like Virgin Galactic, Space-X and Blue Origin have captured the attention of our youth, demonstrating that it could be possible for this generation to be Space travellers within their lifetimes.
As a result Parklands College has formally established a Star Programme to give their learners authentic opportunities to explore and research Space.
“To support this we have established a key partnership with MaxIQ.Space who are developing and connecting a global network of Space-minded organisations through their technology platform. Proudly we have been recognised as a MaxIQ.Space Centre of Excellence,” says Ellie Clews, the school’s social media coordinator.
Up and . . . away!
On 13 March a team of 14 young Parklands College Space engineers excitedly left on their first Space camp. Their primary objective was to launch a small MaxIQ.Space scientific instrument, which they had assembled and coded, on the Phoenix 1C hybrid rocket and collect important flight data.
The rocket was developed by the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s (UKZN’s) Aerospace Systems Research Institute (Asri) Space Propulsion Programme. The trip to the launch site in Arniston included a fascinating visit to the South African National Space Agency (Sansa) Solar Weather and Monitoring Research Facility where the surface of the Sun is constantly monitored by scientists and engineers.
“When our team finally arrived in Arniston they were incredibly lucky to be invited to witness the test launch of the new Phoenix 1D hybrid rocket. The launch was extremely successful with the rocket reaching a speed of Mach 2,2 and an altitude of 13,5 km,” Clews says.
“The Phoenix 1C rocket was launched with our payload from the Overberg Test Range, Arniston, South Africa, on Thursday 16 March. Due to adverse weather conditions the rocket reached an altitude of just over five kilometres and sadly landed in the Indian Ocean where it was destroyed on impact. While we were all very disappointed, it was an incredible learning experience for us and we experienced first hand the reality of just how challenging the Space industry is. This rocket launch was the first stage of our three-stage Genesis Mission,” Clews adds.
