[S]am the space dog and local school children are celebrating the successful completion of a rocket science project.
The mascot of English Lakes Hotels Resorts & Venues was launched into the skies of rural Northumberland on board Skybolt 2, a research rocket built by Manchester based Starchaser Industries.
Morecambe Bay Community Primary School and the Midland Hotel were invited to get involved in the project, with Sam the Dog offered a VIP place on board the rocket following his space travel escapade in 2016 which turned him into an overnight international internet star.
The deployment of three high tech parachutes helped Sam return to earth safely this time, still aboard the 8.3 metre rocket which reached its maximum allowed altitude of 4,000 feet in less than 20 seconds.
Steve Bennett from Starchaser Industries said: “This was a text-book launch and recovery for Skybolt 2, with all the thrusters and parachutes working perfectly to launch the rocket and bring it back safely. We want to encourage more young people to pursue science subjects at school, so it was great to get the Morecambe Bay school children involved.”
Siobhan Collingwood from Morecambe Bay Community Primary School added: “This was another fantastic experience for the children and a great way to see how science works in practice. We were able to take a small group from the school up to Northumberland to see the launch of the rocket and take good care of Sam.”
“We’re delighted that Sam’s rocket science and space travel experience has been extended and has helped to bring another project alive for the school children,” added Ben Berry from English Lakes Hotels Resorts & Venues. “We want to thank Starchaser Industries for asking the school and the Midland Hotel to join in on the project.”
The purpose of the Skybolt 2 flight, sponsored by the University of Chester, was to test onboard electronics and demonstrate a bespoke parachute recovery system to be used aboard Starchaser’s future people carrying rocket.
