Science teacher Matt Dodds hopes the once in a lifetime opportunity can inspire a new generation of scientists across all fields, while also living out a lifelong dream of visiting the Space Centre himself after picking up a scholarship to join the students.

Codenamed the A-35 expedition, 11 junior school students, both boys and girls signed up for the trip after a visit from Actura Australia, a high end high tech education company that specialises in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The trip will see the students spend one week in Houston and one week in Huntsville Alabama the home of the US Space and Rocket Centre, where they will get to view a Saturn V Space Rocket, the same model which landed on the moon.

While the trip is all things space, including sessions in the low gravity tank and multi-access trainer, it also covers a lot of other science fields, with the planned dissection of a shark particularly interesting to student Tamar Leibenson.

“I like that kind of thing, although this trip is an opportunity to do something completely different, and to learn about NASA and what they do there,” she said.

“I am looking forward to the low gravity tank as well – actually all of it.” 

Year nine student Sean Lewis already has the space bug, and knows exactly which part he is looking forward to.

“Going to NASA, talking to astronauts and asking them what it is like up there – it is all going to be really good,” he said.

For Mr Dodds that variety of science fields and interests is key to the mission.

“Not all astronauts fly the ship, those missions need biologists, engineers, and mathematicians, hopefully the kids get inspired to follow any of those fields,” he said.

“The whole trip is also underpinned by The Seven Habits of Highly Successful Teams program, which should also teach them a lot.” 

In September one senior student will follow in the footsteps of the junior space odyssey.