An interest in science has taken one Southern Regional College student from the classroom to Houston Texas and right to the heart of NASA’s space programme.
Eighteen-year-old Jack Abbott a level 3 Applied Science student at SRC, was selected to represent the College at the prestigious United Space School (USS) 2026, joining students from around the world to tackle the challenge of planning a manned mission to Mars.
As part of the programme, Jack joined the Mars Habitation Team, helping to design a habitat for six astronauts on an 800-day mission to Mars. The experience involved tackling real-world challenges including radiation protection, life-support systems and habitat location, while collaborating with specialist teams working on mission control, transit, exploration and logistics.
The trip also included a private tour of Johnson Space Centre, Rocket Park and the original Apollo Mission Control Room, as well as the opportunity to meet aerospace professionals and NASA astronaut Stephen Bowen.
Having discovered a love of science during his GCSEs, Jack chose to progress onto the level 3 Applied Science course at the College. The space school experience has demonstrated just how far a science can take you, opening his eyes to the diverse career opportunities available across the space and wider STEM industries. Jack said;
“The trip has certainly opened my eyes to the vast number of roles that are involved in space exploration and the opportunities that are currently available as well as what is yet to come!”
The experience has also highlighted the exciting opportunities available to SRC students beyond the classroom, with Jack describing USS as a “once in a lifetime opportunity” that resulted in new friendships, worldwide connections and memories to last a lifetime.
Could you be our next space explorer? Applications for the 2027 United Space School programme are expected to open in December. Students interested in applying should keep an eye on their student emails and SRC social media channels for application details, key dates and further information.