Coding project is out of this world

Furness College students had their computer programme running on the International Space Station as part of a world-wide challenge.

They took part in the Astro Pi Challenge with young people from 26 other countries programming a Raspberry Pi computer with code to run aboard the orbiting lab.

A Level students from sixth form and Cambridge Technical IT students at the Channelside campus were involved in the project.

They were able to track where in space the space station was while their code was running.

Furness College Computer Science Lecturer Simon Withey said each team designed their own 60-second experiment for the mission.

“A record 16,869 teams of young people from 26 countries had their Mission Zero programs run on the Astro Pi computers on board the International Space Station,” he said.

“They also had the opportunity to vote for the names of the two new Astro Pi computers that are being sent to the International Space Station in December.”

They were presented with their certificates this week.

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Pictured:  Students  Haydn and Brodie who are in their first year of the Level 3 Cambridge Technical in IT pictured with astronaut Major Tim Peake