Space Olympics in Press

Chat in space for students
By Caroline Smith

DERBY EVENING TELEGRAPH
Friday, October 24, 1997

DERBYSHIRE students chatted with American astronaut David Wolf during a live link-up with the Mir space station in Russia today. The eight-strong team from Mackwurlh, Wilmorton and South East Derbyshire colleges is taking part in the International Space Olympics in Korolev, Russia. Space Olympic organisers arranged for them to visit Mission Control for a 30-minute question and answer session with Mir this morning. Several of the students spoke to U.S. astronaut David Wolf, who is carrying out experiments, on Mir after replacing British born astronaut Michael Foale. The cosmonauts appeared live on a screen at Mission Control so the students could see them floating around the space station. Mackworth student Pardeep Pall asked Wolf what went through his mind at take-off. He replied: "My mind is concentrating on the engines and equipment and hoping everything doesn't fall apart. I don't have time to think about Earth." South East Derbyshire College student Anna Bailey asked: "To what extent can you keep in touch with world affairs?" The astronaut replied they had the Internet and his friends and family sent him information on issues he was interested in. A question about Wolf's most frightening experience in space was posed by Mackworth student Ann Fomukong . The astronaut replied dial nothing really frightening him but he did not like it when experiments went wrong and he was not getting the results he hoped. Rolls-Royce apprentice and Mackworth student Darren Sisson asked: "If you were my age, would it be difficult to become an astronaut? Wolf replied: "Yes, it's a great job", adding he had been inspired by the Gemini launches when he was a child. Asked by Wilmorton student Steven Moore about what it was like to live with the same people for so long. Wolf said they all got along well but had their own private space too. Mackworth lecturer Di Fretwell, who is in Russia with the students, said: "The students are absolutely overwhelmed by their experience. They cannot believe they have actually spoken to people who are up in space."

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Space link-up for group of Derbyshire students

DERBY EVENING TELEGRAPH
Saturday, October 10, 1998

An excited group of Derby students gathered at Mackworth College this week to hear cosmonaut Alexander Volkov describe life on space station MIR. The students had a special interest in his account because on Wednesday they fly out to the Russian space city Korolev, where they will speak to cosmonauts currently living on the station through a live link-up. The group have been invited to Korolev to take part in a 1998 Space Olympics following the success of a similar visit last year.. The students taking part in the 1997 trip were the first British team ever to take part in the Space Olympics. The contest involves competing against students from all over Russia on topics ranging from mathematics and physics to computing and engineering. The group comprises three students from Wilmorton College, three from Mackworth College, two from South East Derbyshire College and two Rolls-Royce trainees. They will be accompanied by four members of staff from the three colleges. The students had to prepare and deliver a presentation to earn a place on the Space Olympics team. As well as talking to cosmonauts on MIR the students will be taking part in a programme of cultural events in and around Russia. During the 10-day trip, they will be treated to a tour of the space city, watch cosmonauts training, go to one of Russia's famous circuses and a Moscow theatre. The highlight will be the live link-up with MIR from Mission Control in Korolev. The special link which exists between Derby and Korolev was forged following a visit by cosmonaut Vladimir Soloviev and head of ballistics, Alexander Martynov last year. The cosmonauts took a miniature version of Derby County's mascot Rammie aboard and gave Ramanaut a chance to circle the Earth aboard MIR. Anthony Morrissey (17), studying A-level maths, chemistry and physics at South East Derbyshire College, is a member of the team. He wants to be a GP. He said: "I'm really looking forward to the visit. It's going to be great. I'm very interested in space. I found the video of life on MIR really interesting - especially the bit about the exercises they have to do." Shagufta Tabassam is a GNVQ advanced science student at Wilmorton College. She wants to study pharmacy at university. She said: "It will be an incredible experience, something I will never get a chance to do again. I'm really looking forward to speaking to the cosmonauts by satellite and hearing their views first hand. We're also going to see a circus. I'm really looking forward to that." The other students in the team are Rebecca Gatt and Adam Griffin from Wilmorton College, Rebecca Howe from South East Derbyshire College, David Nettleship, Mary Rodger and Lindsay Wiles from Mackworth College and Rolls-Royce apprentices Tony Head and Paul Stott.

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Students are over the moon

DERBY EVENING TELEGRAPH

TWO Derby students have won through to the final stages of the International Space Olympics in Korolev, Russia. Ann Fomukong , of Mackworth College, presented a project on music in space and Darren Sisson, a Rolls-Royce apprentice who is also studying at Mackworth, presented a project on the life cycle of a star. They won through to the final round after judges, whittled the 130 competitors down to a shortlist of just 10. The pair were among eight 17-year-olds from Mackworth, Wilmorton and South East Derbyshire colleges who gave 15-minute presentations on the theme of Space Exploration.

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Mission Control visit by students

DERBY EVENING TELEGRAPH

STUDENTS from Derbyshire were given a glimpse of Russia's space programme when they visited Mission Control in Korolev to hear a link-up with cosmonauts on Mir. Eight 17-year-olds from Mackworth, Wilmorton. and South Derbyshire colleges are on an 11-day trip to ""Space City" near Moscow. They are the only British team taking part in the fifth International Space Olympics. Yesterday they heard a live 15-minute radio conversation with Mir's crew. A 30-minute question and answer session between the students and the cosmonauts has been delayed until Friday. Yesterday, the cosmonauts were preparing for a space walk on Monday ,to carry out repairs to Mir. The Derby delegation of former mayor Alan Mullarkey, his wife Alma, and Alan Harrison, Rafik Sfar-Gandoura and Chris Perkins of Mackworth College, also met Russian officials to discuss education links. Later, Derby County mascot Ramanaut was officially handed over to Mr Mullarkey. The mascot has orbited the earth aboard Mir after landing on the space station in May aboard an unmanned rocket and now will return to Derby to be auctioned off for charity. Student Ann Fornukong said: "Being in Mission Control was amazing, there was a real buzz." Fellow-competitor Debbie Hudd said: "We were disappointed not to be able to speak to the cosmonauts but we are going to think of some really good questions."

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