Thornhill's Space Science Students meet ESA Astronaut Tim Peake
Thornhill College’s inaugural Space Science class were invited to the official opening of the new Thales space propulsion facilities in Belfast. Along with First Minister Arlene Foster and Economy Minister Simon Hamilton the Thornhill students welcomed Principia Mission Astronaut Tim Peake from the European Space Agency (ESA) to Northern Ireland.
The students involved: Anna Brady, Chloe Brown, Eve Flood, Niamh Friel, Rebecca Harrigan, Jessica Hegarty, Laoise Mackel-McLaughlin, Aoife McCorriston, Molly McDaid, Eadaoin O'Kane and Dalya Yuceler
The Year 12 Thornhill girls were specially selected to represent the future of the Northern Ireland workforce because of the high standard of work they have completed in their CCEA Space Science Technology studies. Northern Ireland is keen to secure a place in world recognition for the talented, educated and skilled workforce it can offer, making it an attractive location for the most innovative engineering companies, particularly in the space sector, to set-up.
The girls had the opportunity to speak to Tim Peake and to discuss the intricacies of Space Engineering with a number of the space engineers as well as the top man in charge of Thales Belfast.
The dedicated propulsion facility at the Thales factory in Belfast is the first of its kind in the UK, it will manufacture state-of-the art electric thrusters to power satellites into orbit. The French company is recruiting 150 engineers, with plans to take staffing levels up to 350 within two years. Stormont First Minister Arlene Foster said the opening of the new facility demonstrated Thales' confidence in the "world-class engineering capabilities of its workforce in Northern Ireland. Like Tim Peake, we also have a mission. We must open engagement between industry, academia and government to develop Northern Ireland as a globally recognised region for space sector innovation."
The Thornhill students are pictured along with First Minister Arlene Foster, Economy Minister Simon Hamilton, past pupil Margaret Andrasi (formally Kelly)who works at Thales and Thornhil Physics teacher Dr. O’Donnell.
