Orbex employees discussed STEM with Kinloss Primary School during World Space Week

Pupils at a village school had a blast during an occupational visit in World Space Week (October 4-10).

Kinloss Primary marked the event with a hands-on rocket workshop led by Forres Enterprise Park-based spaceflight company, Orbex.

P7 teacher, Mr Zack Thomson, said: “It’s not every day you have members from a real rocket company in the classroom.

“Opportunities like this really help bring science and science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) to life, and it’s so important for children to experience that from a young age. The class absolutely loved it!”

World Space Week is an international celebration of science and technology, and their contribution to “the betterment of the human condition”. This year, the theme is ‘Living In Space’.

Orbex staff joined the P7s to explore the science behind rockets. They helped the pupils build and launch their own straw rockets to see whose design flew the farthest.

The session also gave pupils a glimpse into how Orbex plans to launch small satellites into orbit using its environmentally sustainable Prime rocket.

Orbex is developing the launch vehicle with a test site in Kinloss and is committed to inspiring young people to encourage careers in STEM.

Orbex CEO, Phil Chambers, said: “Although we build our rockets a little differently at Orbex, it’s fantastic to see young minds engaged and excited by the idea of space.

“It’s a reminder that science doesn’t just happen in laboratories or at launch sites, it begins in classrooms. You never know, a small spark of interest today could be what leads a young person into a future career.

“We’re proud to support our local schools and to highlight the role Scotland is playing in shaping the future of space travel.”

Orbex staff members have professional backgrounds with NASA, ESA and several commercial spaceflight organisations.

The company expects to carry out no more than 10 tests-a-month during daytime hours, and not during evenings or weekends.

Initial launches will take place from SaxaVord Spaceport, where Orbex has a dedicated launch pad and the ability to launch 10 flights per year.

For more information, visit https://www.orbex.space/