Grace is heading off to space camp

BLAST OFF: Grace Jacobs Corban is one of six Kiwi students selected to attend to the International Advanced Space Academy in Alabama in July. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Masterton physics and calculus student Grace Jacobs Corban is blasting off in July to the International Advanced Space Academy in Alabama.

The 17-year-old St Matthew's Collegiate School senior said her studies in science and mathematics had fuelled her zeal for things extraterrestrial and helped clinch her space camp selection by the Royal Society of New Zealand alongside five other Kiwi secondary school students.

"I am really excited about going and the chance to learn of astrophysics and astronauts - especially the zero-gravity tanks."

Debbie Woodhall, Royal Society of New Zealand project manager, said the five other students were from Wanganui, Wellington, Christchurch and Hamilton and each was selected for the July camp in Huntsville "because they have a genuine interest in space science and will be studying some form of science at university next year".

"During their time at the International Space Camp, the New Zealand students will be joined by more than 150 like-minded students from 23 countries and they will be immersed in a programme that is designed to promote space science and exploration," Ms Woodhall said.

Space camp activities will include astronaut training, as well as learning about the mental, emotional and physical demands astronauts must face, leadership training, scuba diving and the experience of four Gs of lift-off force and weightlessness in the space simulator.

Ms Woodhall said the student attendance at the camp would be funded through the Talented School Students Travel Award, which is administered by the Royal Society of New Zealand and partnered by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.