SPACE studying students from Scoil Chaitriona on Mobhà Road couldn’t believe their luck when they ran into a real live astronaut earlier this month.
Transition year students, Padraig Mac Eoin, Taminine Nà Mheachair and Cian � Donabháin, are working on a project for a competition organised by the European Space Agency so they were blown away when they spotted International Space Station Commander, Chris Hadfield.
Commander Hadfield, who made headlines by singing from space, is promoting Ireland as a holiday destination for Tourism Ireland and was learning about hurling in Na Fianna GAA club, right beside the students school.
The students were on their way to a workshop on the project and were stunned when they realised the famous astronaut was just next door.
The Commander was more than happy to answer questions from the students about their project, on which they’re simulating the behaviour of a real satellite by creating a system that fits inside a drink can.
The students plan to launch their craft one kilometre into the atmosphere where it will then be released and gently fall back to the earth with the aid of a parachute.
Commander Hadfield listened to their plans and dished out some advice about how to make the satellite land safely.