AN East Yorkshire teenager has set off on an out-of-this-world trip to the US Space Academy.
Star sixth-former Tom Conway, a pupil at Woldgate School, in Pocklington, has left for the academy in Huntsville, Alabama.
Accompanying 17-year-old Tom, of The Meadows, Wilberfoss, is Sophie Butler, also 17, from Hull.
The pair are this year's winners of the Young Scientist Awards run by the University of Hull. Tom won his place at the prestigious institution by giving a talk on chemiluminescence, when two chemicals react together to produce light.
Tom will take part in six days of intensive training in space science and astronautics along with youngsters from all over the world.
He will learn about shuttle orientation, space physiology, international space missions and the future of space exploration before graduating with his Space Academy wings on Friday.
He will work on a number of training missions, rotating roles in the space shuttle, space station and mission control. The highlight of his week will be a six-hour simulated mission.
Tom, who has a keen interest in engineering, will also get the chance to design and race a virtual reality Mars Rover.
Updated: 10:38 Tuesday, July 29, 2003
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