Chinthurst enjoyed a fascinating assembly led by Mrs Reid last week about NASA’s ambitious Artemis mission and the future of space exploration.

Focusing on Artemis II, Mrs Reid explained how the mission has been carefully designed to test NASA’s powerful deep space rocket, the Space Launch System, alongside the Orion spacecraft. These technologies are crucial in ensuring astronauts can travel safely into deep space and return home successfully.

Mrs Reid explained the mission also played a vital role in preparing for future lunar landings. By gathering data and observations, scientists now better understand the challenges of deep space travel, including its effects on the human body, knowledge that will be essential for future missions to the Moon.

During the assembly, the children were captivated to learn that astronauts on Artemis II travelled as far as 252,760 miles from Earth, the furthest distance humans have ever journeyed into space. From this remarkable vantage point, the crew observed the far side of the Moon, studying its surface features, and captured breathtaking photographs.

Looking ahead, Mrs Reid shared exciting plans for Artemis III, currently scheduled for launch in 2027. This mission aims to build on Artemis II by testing how the Orion spacecraft can dock with other spacecraft in low Earth orbit, an essential step in enabling astronauts to land on the Moon once again.

The children were astonished to hear that between 20,000 and 30,000 people are involved in the Artemis programme, highlighting the incredible scale of collaboration behind modern space exploration.

The assembly was part of the global celebration of Space Day, which has inspired children worldwide since 1997. Space Day aims to spark curiosity about space, science, and exploration, while encouraging young people to engage with STEAM subjects through the mystery and adventure of the universe.

It was a truly out-of-this-world assembly, leaving children inspired and excited about the future of space exploration.