Bolton teacher part of International Space Station science mission

Astronaut Tim Peake is due to launch in December and Caroline Molyneux, assistant head and chemistry teacher at Sharples School, will be on the ground using the mission to enthuse young people about the space programme linking ISS and Bolton.

Miss Molyneux will share the science demonstrated in space on the ground through student masterclasses and teacher training in Bolton and across the North West in her role as a member of the National Space Academy team.

She said: "We will be live streaming the launch at the school, to which other schools are invited and parents as well. This coincides with the opening of our observatory — the dome is due to be installed any day now.

"We will be organising many activities for different ages. I will be going round schools to promote the space industry — our young people could be future scientists working on future missions."

Jeremy Curtis, Head of Education at the UK Space Agency, said it was an exciting mission.

He said: "We’re excited that Tim will be able to carry out demonstrations in space to help teachers explain science to their students."

National Space Academy Director Anu Ojha OBE has led the development of the Astro Academy: Principia programme.

He said: "Tim Peake’s mission to the International Space Station has given us an amazing opportunity to develop Astro Academy: Principia — a series of ground based-classroom experiments, unique orbital demonstrations and the accompanying teaching films and written guides which will influence the core physics and chemistry understanding of thousands of students over the coming years .

"For the first time, the UK is now formally involved in new, inspirational areas of physical and life science studies linked to human spaceflight and having Tim as our dedicated educational researcher aboard the ISS has given us a tremendous opportunity for school science education.”