Northumberland children may have the chance to be part of a 5-day NASA Astronaut led STEM course.

The County Council is calling on businesses to give children and young people the change to be part of the Mission Discovery Programme, which will enable young people to meet and work with real astronauts while creating an experiment to be launched into space.

Cath McEvoy-Carr, executive director for adult and children’s services, said: “Opportunities like this don’t come around often and to have it right on our doorstep is amazing. We want to try and secure as many place as we possibly can for our children and young people, and for that we need the support of Northumberland’s businesses.

“If you own a business in, or outside the county you can get involved by sponsoring a place for a child. Sponsorship means that any child who shows interest will have the chance to attend Mission Discovery.

“You could make a real difference to their lives, giving them the chance to be inspired and shine!”

Students will work on their experiments under NASA astronauts Barbara Morgan and ISS Commander Dr Mike Foale, as well as NASA personnel, rocket scientists, and world-renowned professors.

It is hoped that the experiments will benefit the human race in the future, whether that is on Earth, the International Space Station, the Moon or Mars!

The best experiment will be built at Kings College, Oxford before being launched to the International Space Station to be conducted by the astronauts on board then live-streamed to the students.

Mission Discovery will take place in October 2021 in Newcastle and businesses who get involved will be invited to attend the Mission Discovery Gala dinner.