Bede’s welcomes local schools for the annual Galactic Space Challenge event

Posted: 3rd May 2022

On Saturday 24 April 2022, Bede’s Senior School hosted Galactic Challenge, a space design competition for Years 6-8 pupils. Bede’s Senior School pupils helped as they acted as the teams’ CEOs and technical advisors. Joining Bede’s Prep School were pupils from Lancing Prep, The Schools at Somerhill, Willingdon Community School, Heathfield Community College, Blatchington Mill School, Pennthorpe School and Marlborough House School.

The objective was for the pupils (in mixed school teams) to create and deliver a presentation, answering a request for proposal following a press release from the Foundation Society. For the mission at hand, the pupils were transported to the year 2052, and tasked with the design for the construction and development of a space lab; the first space settlement on a comet. The task encouraged pupils to be innovative, creative, and collaborative whilst challenging their application of physics and mathematics in an astrophysical way.

The teams worked in specific sectors and management positions throughout the day, imitating that of an actual aerospace design team. Structurally, they tackled problems such as a lack of gravity, durability, radiation and thermal heating levels, and the ability to construct on a body as icy and rocky as a comet. Operationally, they tackled issues such as water and food consumption, power demands, and acclimatization.

On the other hand, in the human engineering sector, they tackled leisure, research, and residential layouts. Finally, they were tasked with constructing a number of robots, rovers, and transportation methods that allowed the scientists to carry out their occupational tasks.

In the afternoon, the participants’ parents and guardians arrived and watched the teams’ presentations whilst enjoying refreshments. After significant deliberation from the Judging Panel, the winners were decided. All of the teams produced creative and innovative design concepts that ranged from self-repairing wall sensors to using algae as a source of oxygen. Whilst all the teams were impressive, ‘Solaris’ were the team that came out victorious. Their ideas of using plants multi-functionally for agriculture, improved mental health, and as a nutritional food source, as well as their hilarious ‘mic’ drop, particularly won the judges over.

Lower Sixth Bede’s pupil Ellie Abel, who was also a technical advisor on the day, comments, “It was a most inspiring day for participants and all involved and it was simply astounding to see such an amazing display of creativity from all of the teams.”

Mr Oli Froom, Head of Physics at Bede’s Senior School, is very proud of the pupils who took part, commenting, “I was extremely impressed by the levels of focus and autonomy exhibited by all three groups of participating students. It was marvellous to see so many of them visibly grow in self-confidence throughout the day, whether by finding a specialist niche within their team, assuming responsibility for others, or finding the courage and composure to address a large audience of their peers, teachers and parents in the final presentation. Well done to all”

Categories: Bede's School School News