C8 brings Space to the UK

                                                                                                                                   
C8 brings Space to the UK

After the successful Lift Off Bradford programme launched in September 08 when the NASA shuttle crew visited Bradford for two days to inspire the people of Bradford, Space Connections, in conjunction with Yorkshire Forward, have given C8 the opportunity to organise and manage the programme in June and July 2009.

C8 has been tasked to prepare a whole series of events throughout the summer using Space as the context to get school children from many different cities including Liverpool, Gateshead, Bradford, Manchester, Barnsley, Skipton and Rotherham, motivated, inspired, excited and engaged in Science, Technology, Mathematics and Engineering subjects (STEM), which have been typically under subscribed by school children of all ages.

This Summer’s events include a visit by the former head of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Jay Honeycutt in June. Following that the Astronaut crew of STS 119 who have just returned from their mission to the International Space Station, along with  Astronaut Ken Hamm and Astronaut trainer Michelle Hamm (who also happen to be husband and wife) will visit in July.  Finally there is a very special visit by NASA Astronaut, Dr Margaret Rhea Seddon who was the 6th woman to travel into space and is a three-flight veteran with over 722 hours in Space. Dr Seddon is coming in place of the recently appointed NASA Director for the Obama administration, Major General Charles Bolden Jnr, who was scheduled to visit Bradford for the second time but because of his new role and responsibilities is unable to attend. 

This mammoth task will involve many different organisations including NASA, Yorkshire Forward, Space Connections, The Wow Academy, ISETT and many more, all collaborating to make this project a success.  C8’s role is to bring all these different organisations together and organise all the different events, ensuring that all aspects, including  promotional materials, letters, venues, press, catering, transport are all taken care of and ensuring that all involved are informed and aware of the details.

C8 will take responsibility of the event planning and delivery, project management, creative design, media and public relations, administration and full management from design to implementation.

For detailed information on each of the events, clink on the links below:

http://www.spaceconnections.net/news.php?id=58

http://www.spaceconnections.net/news.php?id=57

http://www.spaceconnections.net/news.php?id=56

http://www.spaceconnections.net/news.php?id=55

For more information about the astronauts please click the links below:

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts119/main/index.html