PUPILS at a Barry primary school will enjoy a half-term break with a difference when they head Stateside for an out of this world experience.

Barry Island Primary School, in junction with 5-a-day Fitness, will send 10 pupils to NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre, in Florida, as part of the BIPS Countdown To Space, from May 23 to 30.

The year 6 youngsters will be joined by four pupils from Evelode primary and one pupil from St Josephs primary school.

The aim of BIPS Countdown To Space is to inspire a passion for science, technology, engineering, and maths.

The group will be taken through the Astronaut Training Experience enabling the pupils to gain a sense what it takes to become an astronaut.

They will have the opportunity to participate in the simulated Space Shuttle Mission, as well as experiencing the Multi-Axis Trainer, 4g Centrifuge, the Zero Gravity Wall, and the Lunar Walk Simulator.

They will then take a tour of the Kennedy Space Centre, including visiting the space shuttle launch pads and the Vehicle Assembly Building. They will also explore the Space Station Processing Facility where space station components are checked, and the Orbiter Processing Facility where spacecraft are prepared for their return to space.

On a visit to Cape Canaveral, where they will learn about the development of human space exploration, and visit the historical launch site of the Apollo 1 tragedy.

They will also meet real astronauts and participate in lessons and lectures on the physics behind the Space Expedition, before spending the evening in a planetarium meeting the female scientists and astronauts behind the success of NASA.

5-a-day Fitness, an online educational fitness resource for primary schools, is co-sponsoring the trip. Other sponsors of the trip are Scholastic & Cornerstones.

The company is well known to BIPS and its pupils, who are long-term subscribers to the resource, regularly using the routines to engage in and boost physical activity.

5-a-day co-founder and CEO Fin Barnes said: “5-a-day Fitness is proud to have the opportunity to be involved in such an inspiring adventure for these pupils. We’re currently working on a space-themed 5-a-day Fitness routine, which the pupils can perform for the astronauts during their visit to NASA.”

BIPS Acting deputy dead Teacher Dominic Broad and acting head teacher Rebecca Cadman of BIPS will be travelling with the children, along with representatives from the International Space School Educational Trust (ISSET).

Mr Broad said: “The community of Barry Island is eager to embrace new opportunities and is very keen to support the school’s dream of inspiring children through practical, real life experiences. We hope to achieve this via the Kennedy Space Centre!”