Some 230 secondary school students peered at Malta through satellite imagery at the Esplora National Interactive Science Centre in Kalkara on Friday.

The children had the opportunity to learn about the benefits brought about by satellites observing the Earth and participate in a hands-on workshops about the significance of satellite imagery over Malta.

The event, called Space for All: Observing Earth from Space forms part of a space education programme funded by the Malta Council for Science and Technology and supported by the European Space Agency and the Education Ministry.

It included a space-related planetarium film in Esplora’s full-dome Colour Space 4K theatre system. The film featured the International Space Station’s role in the development of various commodities that people use on a daily basis.

MCST meanwhile launched its Space Education Programme which will see the introduction of space-related extra-curricular activities developed by the ESA. 

Consequently, all students will now be able to participate in two challenges known as the CanSat Malta Competition and the AstroPi challenge.

A CanSat is a simulation of a satellite that fits into a soft drink can. These student-built devices will then be launched at an altitude of a few hundred metres by a rocket and will transmit mission data as they descend by parachute.

The AstroPi challenge is a coding activity where student-written codes are run on the International Space Station.

A message by ESA astronaut Tim Peake was also screened at the event. He encouraged the Maltese to make the most of the space-related opportunities and urged researchers and start-up companies to venture into the ever-growing downstream space sector.

He also encouraged students to explore the world of space applications through Malta’s Space Education Programme.

Space for All will be open to the public on Saturday.

More information on http://mcst.gov.mt/space-directorate/sep/