Thales Alenia Space and Astrophysicist Dr. Emma Osborne inspire students to fly their own science experiments on MARSBalloon 2022
Thales Alenia Space fosters children’s STEM ambitions with MARSBalloon project to offer the chance to design their own science experiments and test technologies that could one day be destined for Mars.
17 March 2022 - As British Science Week gets underway, research conducted by Thales in the UK, reveals that almost half (41%) of children in the UK believe they will be able to travel to space within their lifetime.
The research, surveying over 2,000 parents of children aged 5-16 years across the UK, also found that 40% of parents believe that the first person will set on foot on Mars within their child’s lifetime. This is corroborated by their children, with a quarter (26%) believing that NASA will be the first to put people on Mars, showcasing how space travel and exploration is expected to become an increasingly important part of our lives.
41% of children believe they’ll be our Space Travelers of the future
- Two fifths (40%) of parents think the first person will set foot on Mars within their child’s lifetime.
- 40% of parents say their child is interested in pursuing a career in STEM.
- Thales Alenia Space (joint-venture between Thales 67% and Leonardo 33%) is fostering children’s STEM ambitions with the MARSBalloon project, offering students the opportunity to test technologies that could one day be destined for Mars.
Inspired by Science
Alongside these attitudes, the research shows that space and science are impacting the way children and their parents are thinking about their future careers. Children now consider a career as a doctor or nurse to be the most inspiring (44%) and a quarter (25%) are most inspired by astronauts.
Additionally, 40% of parents said their child is currently interested in pursuing a career in STEM (science, technology, engineering maths). Of the top skills that parents believe will be most important for their child’s future careers, 40% of parents agreed Technology would be the most important skill and a third 32% said Science.
Almost a fifth of parents ranked Maths (19%) and Engineering (17%) as a top skill, demonstrating a strong belief in UK parents that STEM skills will be extremely important for their child’s future career.
Inspiring Future Martians
To provide students with the opportunity to channel their interest in STEM and belief in space travel into action, Thales Alenia Space in the UK is launching its ninth annual MARSBalloon project. The project is supported by Dr. Emma Osborne, Astrophysicist and award-Winning Science presenter.
In June 2022, the project will launch over 150 experiment capsules designed by school children up into the atmosphere via a high-altitude balloon – testing student ideas for technologies that could one day be destined for Mars.
The ambitions of the project feel particularly timely, with two thirds (66%) of parents agreeing that climate change and the environment is the number one issue facing children today.
Students can work together to create Mars experiments that fit inside a small capsule, putting in anything from electronics, to plants, to rubber bands.
During the launch, the balloon will ascend to 30km, more than twice the height of commercial airliners, in approximately one hour. The experiments will experience conditions very similar to the surface of Mars including temperatures as low as -50°C.
The balloon will then burst, and the experiment tray will return to Earth via a parachute. The experiments will be collected and returned to the schools for students to analyse the results.
The MARSBalloon project is open to any school or science club in the UK. There is no cost to take part in the project other than that of experiment materials and postage.
Registrations on the project are open until 1st April 2022. More information on the project and how to register can be found at www.thalesgroup.com/en/futuremartians.
The research was carried out online by Censuswide between 1st – 2nd March 2022. The sample comprised 2,012 UK parents of 5-16 year-olds.
ABOUT THALES ALENIA SPACE
Drawing on over 40 years of experience and a unique combination of skills, expertise and cultures, Thales Alenia Space delivers cost-effective solutions for telecommunications, navigation, Earth observation, environmental management, exploration, science and orbital infrastructures. Governments and private industry alike count on Thales Alenia Space to design satellite-based systems that provide anytime, anywhere connections and positioning, monitor our planet, enhance management of its resources, and explore our Solar System and beyond. Thales Alenia Space sees space as a new horizon, helping to build a better, more sustainable life on Earth. A joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), Thales Alenia Space also teams up with Telespazio to form the parent companies’ Space Alliance, which offers a complete range of services. Thales Alenia Space posted consolidated revenues of approximately 2.15 billion euros in 2021 and has around 8,900 employees in 10 countries with 17 sites in Europe and a plant in the US.
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THALES ALENIA SPACE – PRESS CONTACTS
Sandrine Bielecki Tel.: +33 (0)4 92 92 70 94 sandrine.bielecki@thalesaleniaspace.com
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Jill Hutchinson Tel +44 (0) 7854 959 805 jill.hutchinson@thalesaleniaspace.com
