A highly practical exploration of rockets, planets, stars, space missions, flight, forces and extreme environments, combining model-building, investigation and mission-based challenges.
Build it. Launch it. Explore it.
The programme follows a structured learning journey. Sessions 1 and 2 are foundation sessions and do not include hands-on experiments. From Session 3 onward, practical investigations and applied challenges are introduced where appropriate.
Learning focus: Solar system, stars, planets, moons, scale and exploration.
Practical / learning activity: Foundation session — guided visual exploration and mission discussion only; no hands-on experiment.
Learning focus: Thrust, gravity, drag, propulsion and rocket stages.
Practical / learning activity: Foundation session — diagrams, videos/visuals and mission examples only; no hands-on experiment.
Learning focus: Lift, drag, thrust, gravity and motion.
Practical / learning activity: Paper-flight investigation comparing one changed variable.
Learning focus: Air occupies space and exerts pressure.
Practical / learning activity: Balloon, cup and simple air-pressure demonstrations.
Learning focus: Rocket shape, stability, engineering constraints and prediction.
Practical / learning activity: Design and build a model rocket ready for controlled launch testing.
Learning focus: Launch testing, measurement, comparison and engineering iteration.
Practical / learning activity: Launch model rockets, compare performance and improve one design variable using evidence.
Learning focus: Falling objects, mass and gravity misconceptions.
Practical / learning activity: Drop-test selected safe objects from equal heights.
Learning focus: Lunar surface, phases, gravity and exploration.
Practical / learning activity: Moon-phase/light model and surface-observation activity.
Learning focus: Mars geology, atmosphere, temperature, robotic exploration and mission planning.
Practical / learning activity: Plan a Mars science mission, map a rover route and identify mission objectives.
Learning focus: Design for transport, shelter and scientific exploration.
Practical / learning activity: Build/test a simple rover or shelter prototype.
Learning focus: Compare deserts, polar regions, deep oceans and space, and examine how science supports survival in extreme conditions.
Practical / learning activity: Investigate insulation and protection strategies for an extreme-environment mission.
Learning focus: Integrate planets, flight, engineering and mission planning.
Practical / learning activity: Create and present a complete space mission with a destination, scientific purpose, vehicle and exploration plan.
Learning focus: Why satellites orbit and what satellites do.
Practical / learning activity: Model circular/orbital motion using string and a lightweight ball/object.
Learning focus: Signals, vibration, communication delay and coding.
Practical / learning activity: Cup-and-string telephone plus coded mission-control messages.
Learning focus: Strength, mass, flexibility, water resistance and insulation.
Practical / learning activity: Compare foil, card, plastic, cloth and bubble wrap for a spacecraft brief.
Learning focus: Extreme temperatures and thermal protection.
Practical / learning activity: Spacecraft insulation challenge with warm water in wrapped cups.
Learning focus: Water, air, food and waste systems in spacecraft.
Practical / learning activity: Build and explain a simple water-filtration model; filtered water is not consumed.
Learning focus: Habitability: water, temperature, atmosphere and energy.
Practical / learning activity: Analyse planetary data and surface samples to assess habitability.
Learning focus: How the transit method can reveal planets around other stars.
Practical / learning activity: Move different-sized balls across a torch beam and compare light blockage.
Learning focus: Impact craters, size, speed and planetary geology.
Practical / learning activity: Investigate how drop height and object size affect impact-crater formation.
Learning focus: Monitoring hazards and changing asteroid paths.
Practical / learning activity: Redirect a rolling marble away from an Earth target using barriers/collisions.
Learning focus: Robots, remote operation and route planning.
Practical / learning activity: Mars-rover navigation challenge using a toy or cardboard vehicle.
Learning focus: Energy, water, food, protection, laboratory and location.
Practical / learning activity: Design and construct a modular Moon or Mars base that meets mission requirements.
Learning focus: Engineering iteration, failure analysis and resilience.
Practical / learning activity: Test designs against scenario cards and improve the solution.
Learning focus: Scientific communication and systems thinking.
Practical / learning activity: Teams present and demonstrate their complete future mission.
One registration for the complete programme year.
Choose full yearFamilies will be able to follow what has been covered, open selected notes and resources, access further activities and see programme progress from phone, tablet or computer.
Ready to secure a place in Space, Rockets & Extreme Science?