Salford City Academy is celebrating the launch of British and European Space Agency (ESA) Astronaut, Tim Peake, to the international Space Station on Tuesday 15th December by cycling, running and bounding the 400km distance from Earth to Space – titled the ‘Space to Earth Challenge.’
As he moves into his new home in space, the ISS, both Tim and the Triathlon Trust have invited Salford City Academy to exercise alongside him as he trains two hours a day in the world’s highest and fastest-moving gym – travelling at 27,600 km per hour and circling the world every 90 minutes. Without exercising regularly, Tim will lose bone and muscle mass, therefore exercise is essential so that he can not just get to space, but also return safely.
Tim Peake said:
“While exercising far away in space, I will have some amazing views, although I will miss the sights, sounds and fresh air of planet Earth. I hope students across the UK will join me in my training and share what they see as they work out back on Earth.”
In support of Tim, Salford City Academy, a United Learning school, will be the only UK school hosting the ‘Space to Earth Challenge’ event on the 15th December – the day Tim sets off on his amazing mission. The challenge will see students from Salford City Academy, Barton Moss Primary School and Westwood Park Primary School cycling, running and bounding the distance from space to earth, assisted by the team from the Triathlon Trust, who are helping to co-ordinate the event.
Salford City Academy Principal, Helen Mackenzie OBE, said:
“We’re absolutely thrilled to have been asked by the British Triathlon Trust to support Tim in this amazing initiative on the actual day he leaves for the International Space Station. It’s a fantastic way of using the theme of space travel to engage our students in not just sport, but also in the exploration of physics and technology.”
World Champion Paratriathlete and ambassador for the Triathlon Trust, Lauren Steadman said:
“It’s great to see Tim’s high-profile mission to the International Space Station being used to encourage children to become more active. It’s so important to embed a healthy and active lifestyle from an early age. The simple yet creative concept of covering the 400km distance from the Space Station to Earth is something that every child can understand and have fun engaging with.”
The distance of 400 km is just one of a series of space-themed sports and Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM) challenges that schools across the country are being asked to ‘tri.’ Education resources to support the challenge have been developed by experts from the Triathlon Trust, University of Cambridge, Kings College London, Queen Mary University of London and Durham University.
