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With the Olympics just behind us and the next generation inspired to follow a fit and healthy lifestyle, astronauts will be picking up where Olympians left off, inspiring UK students to get of the sofa and start training.

Budding young astronauts aged 8 to 13 from across the UK are invited to take part in the international challenge Mission X: Train Like an Astronaut – a programme to encourage school students to focus more on fitness and nutrition.

Supported by the UK Space Agency, as part of the international Mission X challenge, the UK mission blasts off in January 2013. Registration for Mission X 2013 is now open and those who have already enrolled for the mission will be sent their mission briefing shortly.

The programme uses astronaut training to teach how diet and exercise play an important role in human performance in space and on the Earth. The activities can be used by individuals, schools, or community groups and are free to all.

4000 UK students from over 44 British schools have already taken part in the Mission X challenges in 2011 and 2012. Students had the opportunity to take part in live link-ups with the International Space Station and find out about life in space. As well as Tim Peake, Mission X UK has been supported by British ESA astronaut Tim Peake, ESA astronauts Andre Kuipers and Paolo Nespoli, NASA astronaut Piers Sellers and private astronaut Richard Garriott.

Jeremy Curtis, Head of Education at the UK Space Agency, noted, “This is a unique opportunity to find out first hand about astronaut training and to find out how you can get involved in Mission X – Train Like An Astronaut. The UK Space Agency is enabling children to access astronaut training and nutrition regimes and learn about the science behind them. The children taking part will also learn about space and could be the space explorers of the future.”

British ESA astronaut Tim Peake commented, “Being fit and healthy is a key requirement for future astronauts. Spaceflight can be physically demanding and part of my job is to train hard so that I‘m always ready to go into space. It’s much easier to exercise on Earth than in microgravity! The real mission is to encourage kids today to exercise and eat a healthy diet, and astronaut training exercises are an exciting, fun way to do it.”

Space is a growing industry with a bright future. One of the ways the UK Space Agency nourishes and supports it is by inspiring the next generation of space scientists, engineers and enthusiasts.

To find out more about Mission X download the flyer below or go to:
http://www.bis.gov.uk/ukspaceagency/discover-and-learn/mission-x-in-the-uk/mission-x-2013-interest