To round off an exciting British Science Week, some of our Year 4 pupils were incredibly lucky to take part in a live session with Helen Sharman, the first British astronaut, through the Expert Ed programme. With schools from all over the country involved, we were thrilled that one of our children’s questions was selected to be answered live during the event.

Our chosen question asked Helen what worried her most about travelling into space and how she managed those fears. She explained that although space missions can feel daunting, astronauts undergo extensive training to prepare for every scenario. Helen shared that her biggest worry was making a mistake. Over time, however, she gained confidence by learning the detailed plans  eventually trusting the systems, procedures and training that keep astronauts safe.

The children were captivated by Helen’s descriptions of everyday life in space. They discovered that simple tasks like eating, washing and sleeping look very different in zero gravity. Meals are often dehydrated and stored in pouches, with water added before eating. Washing involves small pouches of soapy water, and even the moisture that evaporates from drying hair is collected and recycled by the spacecraft’s air system. Sleeping also requires some clever adjustments, as astronauts strap themselves into sleeping bags to stop them floating around!

One of the most surprising facts for the class was how little goes to waste in space. Helen explained that almost all water is recycled, including urine, an eyebrow‑raising detail that certainly made the children giggle! Water collected from daily activities is also reused and can even be split into hydrogen and oxygen, providing fresh oxygen for astronauts to breathe.

Helen went on to describe the incredible sensation of weightlessness, which she loved. With no “up” or “down,” astronauts often feel very calm and relaxed. Returning to Earth, however, can be a real challenge as the body must readjust to gravity, affecting balance and movement.

The children were also amazed to learn about the physical demands of space travel. Astronauts must exercise every day using resistance bands and special equipment to keep their muscles and bones strong. Without this, standing and moving back on Earth would be extremely difficult.

There were plenty of fun facts too! The class learned that fish and frogs have travelled to space, although birds probably couldn’t fly there due to the lack of gravity. Helen also shared lighter moments from her mission, including decorating biscuits with crewmates and celebrating different cultures while living on the space station.

Mrs Lisa Smith, our Head of Science,  added

 “The session was truly inspiring and sparked wonderful curiosity among our pupils. They left feeling excited about science, space exploration and the possibilities that the future may hold.”