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The Euro Space Center, offers an incredible educational school trip experience particularly for Physics & Chemistry students at GCSE and A level! Science groups can spend 2-5 days on site undertaking memorable astronaut training taking part in once in a life time activities. Moon walks, multi-axis chair, shuttle missions, are just three of many thrilling curriculum-linked activities, workshops, experiments and lectures your group will undertake!
Itinerary
Tour Day 1
Morning
Depart school for channel crossing. Stop en route in Bruges, Lille or Brussels for the afternoon, before continuing your journey to the European Space Center
Afternoon
Enjoy an evening meal and your own evening activities with use of meeting room space
Tour Day 2
Morning
Following breakfast enjoy an incredible full day of workshops and simulators, with additional time for lunch and also a snack break
Evening
Evening meal at your ESC accommodation followed by fee time and self planned evening activities
Tour Day 3
Morning
Following breakfast enjoy a second full day of new workshops and simulators, again with time for lunch and also a snack break
Tour Day 4
Morning
Following breakfast, enjoy a final two final 3 hour sessions of additional space activities, with a break for lunch. Then depart on your journey home arriving at school late evening
Curricular Links
A WST tour to the EuroSpace Centre can support the study of key elements of subject content for GCSEs, Nationals, Highers, Advanced Highers & A Levels in the Sciences.
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GCSE
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A Level
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Study Visits
Activities at the Euro Space Center
Your teaching staff at the ESC are highly experienced at working with schools, delivering curriculum linked sessions whilst bringing student's dreams of being an astronaut a giant leap closer!
WST highly recommend the ‘Full Time Programmes’ referring to the number of activities included on a 2 to 5 day visit. This also leaves time to explore any suggested visits in the local region with your coach en route to/from the center. The camp activities you will experience depend on your stay duration from 2-5 days.
Here are the amazing activities along with the programme/duration they are included in:
Shuttle Mission Simulation
(Full Time Programme: 2/3/4/5 Day)
- Briefing on the American space shuttle, its operation and the different phases of a mission. Training on reading the information displayed on the screens. Simulation of a space mission including all of the actual procedures involved in lift-off, orbiting, satellite launch, docking with the Space Station, re-entry into the atmosphere and landing.
- Simulation in groups of maximum eight people. Two trainees play the part of pilot and commander in the simulator and six have ground control roles (flight director, weather, lift-off and landing director, public relations, space shuttle environment systems coordinator, etc.).
Astronaut Training Simulators
(Full Time Programme 2/3/4/5 Day)
- Moonwalk: A chair on springs that makes a person feel like their weight is 1/6th of what it is on Earth to simulate a moonwalk.
- Multi-axis chair: A chair mounted to spin on three different axes to reproduce the feeling of disorientation felt inside the spaceship where the rotational axes are not controlled.
- Rotating chair: The chair spins on a single axis to reproduce feelings of disorientation and vertigo. An explanation of the balance coordination centre. Measurement of recovery abilities.
Zero-gravity Wall
(Full Time Programme: 3/4/5 Day)
A metal structure of 8 m high x 10 m long that enables trainees to simulate repairing a satellite. The feeling of weightlessness is reproduced with a hydraulic counterweight system. Trainees can move up and down and from right to left on the structure.
Microrocket Workshop
(Full Time Programme 2/3/4/5 Day)
Water rockets and microrockets building and launch workshop (body, nose cone, fins, motor installation, braking and recovery system, etc.). The basics of propulsion theory and of the stability of rockets in flight.
Astronomy/Planetarium Session
(Full Time Programme: 3/4/5 Day)
The Sun and its planetary system : the birth, life and death of the Sun. Observing the Sun. Planetarium session.
Experiments in the shuttle hold
(Full Time Programme: 3/4/5 Day)
Experiments with vacuums and zero pressure: sound doesn’t propagate, liquids boil, air volumes expand, etc.
Daily life in space (ISS)
(Full Time Programme 2/3/4/5 Day)
Presentation on weightlessness, its impact on the human body and its implications for daily life : eating, sleeping, personal hygiene, working, etc.
Lecture about the International space station
(Full Time Programme: 3/4/5 Day)
How has it been built, what are its purposes, its impact on our daily life, what is its future ?
Giant solar system
(Full Time Programme only: 4/5 Day)
Question - answer contest along an itinerary among the planets of the solar system constructed using two scales (diameter and distance).
Integration of a satellite in the clean room
(Full Time Programme only: 4/5 Day)
Briefing on the operation of a telecommunications satellite. Follow-up of satellite integration simulation. Trainees must connect the various elements that are standard in all communication satellites, regardless of their payload or mission: transmitter, receiver, encoder-decoder, etc. Small light cells confirm the right connections.
The History of Space Exploration
(Full Time Programme: 5 Day only)
Films depict the great moments of space exploration.
Cultural Visits
Optional En Route from/to Calais if required:
Euro Space Center is 3.5 hrs from Calais by coach. If your space programme starts on day 2 of your trip, we recommend a stop at one of the following town/cities, or perhaps the options more local to the Space Center.
- Lille: (1 ½ hrs from Calais, 2 ½ hrs from Euro Space Center)
- Ghent: (1 ¾ hrs from Calais, 2 hrs from Euro Space Center)
- Bruges: (1 ½ hrs from Calais, 2 ½ hrs from Euro Space Center)
- Brussels: (2 ½ hrs from Calais, 1 ½ hrs from Euro Space Center)
Local Visits En Route or to fill ‘Half Time Programmes’
Richefort Mini-Train: Discover the unusual aspects of this hospitable town: the stone bridge, the Lorette chapel, the Saint-John’s Cross, the view of the Castle of the Counts, the panorama from the Rond du Roi, the fresco, the velodrome, Malagne, the ‘des Roches ‘ park with outdoor swimming pool and mini golf.
The Wildlife Park: Voted the “Best Animal Park in Belgium” in 2015! On foot or on the Safari train, venture into this 250 hectare haven of peace. Experience a trip through time by discovering many species that live or used to live in our region. All these animals are living in their natural environment. The Wildlife Park is the only one in Belgium that has the European “Big Five”: the wolf, the bear, the lynx, the European bison and the wolverine. The Wildlife Park also has breath-taking panoramas and very special flora.
Han-sur-Lesse Caves: Climb aboard a century-old tram for a trip of almost 4 km to the entrance to the Cave. Accompanied by a guide, set off to discover this mysterious network which has not yet given up all its secrets. This trip is done on foot, is almost 2 km long and takes about 1 hr. 45 mins. Listen to the vault vibrating to the sound and light show in the Hall of Weapons and admire the reflection of the luxurious draperies in the magic mirror that is the Lesse. From long walkways several metres above the river, you will be surprised by the echo of the canon shot fired at the exit to the Cave. Usually Open March-November.
Dinant (40 mins en route to/ from ESC)
Take a cable car up to the Citadel of Dinant to enjoy a 1 hour guided tour of this fortress located in the city of Dinant in the province of Namur. The current fort was built in 1815 on a site which was originally fortified in 1051 when the region was ruled by the Prince-Bishopric of Liège. The citadel overlooks the city of Dinant and the strategic Meuse river which runs through the town.
Overlooking the valley of the river Meuse, the Citadel will take you back to the heart of history of this amazing region! Once at the summit via cable car, objects and information panels retrace the glorious past of Dinant.
Students will enjoy the visits of the dungeons, kitchens, carriages, and weapon museum, as well as the narrative of the trench warfare of Yser... enough to offer you a real step back in time!
Leige (1.5 hours from the ESC)
House of Science: Enjoy free time and a 90 minute guided tour visit of the Maison de la Science with your students, and chose two activities below to undertake from the themes of Physics, Chemistry or Biology.
Physics Activity Options:
- Very low temperatures
- Voltissimo, from Antiquity to today
- Energy transformations in chemistry and / or physics Mechanical: movements and shocks
- Material waves and sound waves
- Electromagnetic waves
- Basic optics
- Fluid
Chemistry Activity Options:
- Atoms and elements,
- A history of 2000 years Energy transformations in chemistry and / or physics
- Polymers
Biology Activity Options:
- Genetic
- One thousand billion microbes
- Evolution: theories of evolution
- Evolution: the human line
- Appearance of life and chronology of evolution
- Botanical
Cointe Planetarium (at the House of Science): Discover rotation and revolution of the Earth, why seasons occur, diurnal and annual movement of the Sun, constellations, eclipses and more, in partnership with the Astronomical Society of Liège!
Secondary education visits are provided by scientists from the Department of Astrophysics, Geophysics and Oceanography of the University of Liège
The University Aquarium-Museum of Liège
In the Aquarium, explore the ‘Biodiversity of the Underworld’ tank exhibition, the ‘Sharks’s and Coral Reefs’ zone, and the ‘Strange ones’.
In the museum you will be impressed by the treasures of the biodiversity of the animal kingdom. There are 20,000 conserved animals, taxidermy, or in form of skeletons from all continents are waiting to be discovered.
Namur
Guided Walking Tour: The tourist office of Namur organises guided visits of the city groups: the perfect way to discover the cultural heritage of the Mosan city. These can be booked all year round all year round for groups and usually depart from the tourist information on Square Léopold.
Train tour of citadel
Namur's tourist train will take you on a ride around the citadel's defence walls. A fantastic way to appreciate their architecture and learn more about their history, from the Middle Ages to present days. The boarding point is at the Terra Nova tourist information centre. Departure on the hour and lasts 25 minutes.
Commentary in Dutch, English and French Groups welcome from 9 am to 5 pm, every day. Booking required.
The Terra Nova Visitor Centre
Based in former barracks of Terra Nova, the Visitor Centre retraces 2000 years of European urban and military evolution through the history of Namur and its citadel. This brings interesting opportunities to reflect on our world and society - past, present and future. You are more than welcome to discover the museum on your own or join one of the guided tours.
