Mission-X: train like an astronaut in 2012

ESA astronaut André Kuipers is inviting thousands of school children to take part in an international project known as ‘Mission-X: Train Like an Astronaut’. Students aged 8 to 12 are being challenged to spend six weeks focusing on fitness and healthy eating!

For astronauts living and working in weightlessness, a balanced diet and physical activity are really important – two hours’ exercise per day is needed to keep fit. The challenge for Mission-X youngsters is to become as fit as astronauts.

Mission-X will start in February 2012. ESA will kick off the project with a live TV event, when 1000 children in four countries will have a chance to speak to André Kuipers aboard the International Space Station. During the broadcast, André will show how astronauts eat and train during their long missions. He will also answer questions about astronaut training and what it takes to be a fit explorer.

During Mission-X, teams of students around the world will learn the principles of healthy eating and exercise. Educational science modules will explore bones, hydration and the importance of energy from food.

The children will also compete for points by taking part in hands-on training missions which target strength, endurance, coordination, balance, spatial awareness and more. The fun activities include: ‘Let’s Climb a Martian Mountain’, ‘Do a Spacewalk’, ‘Agility Astro-Course’, ‘Get on your Space Cycle’ and ‘Space Roll-n-Roll’.

After the six-week challenge, the winning schools will be announced from space by André.

If you or your school would like to take part in the six-week Mission-X 2012 Challenge competition, please e-mail isseducationteam@esa.int . Further information is available at www.trainlikeanastroanaut . Good luck!