The Launch Zone was the second round of I’m an Astronaut funded by the UK Space Agency’s Principia grant scheme. Astronaut Tim Peake’s launch took place halfway through the two weeks and the students in the zone interacted with the Astro Support Team: people whose jobs related to human space missions like Principia.
The Team consisted of an ESA flight director, an engineer based in Antarctica, and three scientists: one planning an experiment for the International Space Station (ISS), one developing a suit for astronauts to wear in space and another working on a rehabilitation technology for astronauts. The zone was busy, especially in the 22 live chats that took place. Discussions in the zone covered a wide range of topics related to space, with a specific focus on human space travel and the work of the Astro Support Team members.