School children in Cork donned space helmets and suits yesterday to participate in a live link-up with the International Space Station (ISS) as it orbited over Ireland.
The European Space Agency, the Discover Science & Engineering Programme and the Faculty of Science at University College Cork, hosted the event, which was the first of its kind in Ireland.
Over 300 children from primary schools across Cork City and County lined up to witness the contact with the ISS from a base at UCC at lunchtime yesterday. The live link-in to the ISS was facilitated by the Irish Radio Transmitters Society, which contacted the Cork Radio Club to work on the details of the broadcast.
"Irish high technology companies play a key role in the European space community and many Irish men and women are involved in research and also technology development which supports this industry," said chairman of the Discover Science & Engineering Programme, Leo Enright.
"We hope, through events like today, that we can encourage children to look at fascinating areas such as space and science as potential career options for them in future years," he added.
Ten pupils present yesterday were given the once in a lifetime chance to put a question of their choice to US astronaut Dr Leroy Chiao, as he orbited some 400 kilometres above Ireland on board the ISS.
Questions ranged from inevitable bathroom concerns to how to tell the difference between night and day.
The European Space Agency was established in 1975 and currently has 15 member-states as well as a co-operation agreement with Canada. ESA space activities in Ireland are co-ordinated by Enterprise Ireland.