Six grade 5 and 6 learners from Parklands College achieved a groundbreaking milestone when their computer programme ran aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the European Astro Pi Mission Zero Challenge 2025.
Lily Campey, Joshua Salter, Harvey Lester, Mukundi Chikwati, Haydn de Wet, and Emma Campey collaborated with international peers from Greece and the Czech Republic to create a programme that collected light data from the ISS and transformed it into vibrant pixel art.
Programme
Their programme met strict criteria set by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Raspberry Pi Foundation, earning official “flight status” before being launched into orbit. The code ran for 30 seconds as the ISS passed over the South Pacific Ocean, igniting excitement across the entire college community.
Justine de Wet, College Robotics Lead, said: “To see their code literally run in space is beyond words. These learners have shown that curiosity, creativity, and teamwork can break every limit — even gravity itself.”
Each learner received a certificate signed by key figures including Hugo Marée of ESA and Philip Colligan of the Raspberry Pi Foundation, marking the exact time and location their code ran in orbit.
This incredible accomplishment highlights the strength of Parklands College’s Science Technology Aerospace and Robotics (STAR) programme, showcasing the young talent nurtured within. Special thanks were given to mentors from Coderlevelup and SAPIENT.rocks, as well as ESA and the Raspberry Pi Foundation for providing this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
