Scottish Parliament Saltire prepares for space mission

093/2006 | 5 December 2006 

Astronaut Nick Patrick (right) was presented with the Saltire flag by Alex Blackwood of Careers Scotland in the historic Apollo Mission Control Center at the Johnson Space Center

A Saltire flag which usually has pride of place at Holyrood is set to blast off on a unique round trip journey on Thursday – into space.

The Scottish Parliament flag will be taken on its supersonic mission by British-born NASA astronaut Nick Patrick in recognition of his support for the Careers Scotland Space School.

The flag was presented to Mr Patrick on behalf of the Scottish Parliament at NASA’s Johnson Space Centre, Houston, Texas back in September by Head of Enterprise in Education for Careers Scotland, Alex Blackwood.

The flag will officially lift off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on 7 December at 9.35 pm EST (on 8 December at 2.35 am UK time) on board Space Shuttle STS-116 – a 12-day construction and logistics mission to the International Space Station.

The mission marks the first space flight for Mr Patrick, 42, who first began training as an astronaut in 1998.

Mr Patrick, whose mother is from Skye, was raised in north Yorkshire. As one of the NASA team that closely supports the Careers Scotland Space School , Nick contacted Careers Scotland with his request for a Scottish flag that had been flown at Holyrood.

Speaking ahead of the launch Nick Patrick said:

The astronauts take a break from training to pose for the STS-116 crew portrait, including Nick Patrick, second from left in the back row. Photo courtesy NASA.

"I am delighted to be able to fly the Scottish flag in space. I love Scotland and am always delighted to meet such inspiring young Scots when the Space School comes to Houston.

"I look forward to coming to Scotland next year after my shuttle flight to return the flag through the Careers Scotland Space School to the Scottish Parliament.”

Presiding Officer, George Reid MSP said:

"This flag has been proudly flown above the Scottish Parliament in honour of Royalty and visiting dignitaries from around the world and we are delighted to donate it for such a momentous journey – hopefully this mission will inspire other budding young Scottish scientists to reach for the stars too.”

Background

• Careers Scotland Space School is supported by the Scottish Executive and the International Space Community. The course seeks to inspire young Scots to pursue science related courses of study, and consider careers in science and technology.

• Every year, 3,000 students from schools across Scotland participate in the programme through courses of distance learning that supplement their studies in Higher Grade Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Biology. The learning modules are developed by Careers Scotland in conjunction with NASA scientists to support the Scottish curriculum.  

• Around 50 young people are then selected to attend a ten day Space School in NASA’s Space Center in Houston, Texas. A further 120 students are chosen to attend a Summer School hosted by the University of Strathclyde and the University of Glasgow and attended by a team of NASA astronauts and scientists who are in Scotland to support Careers Scotland’s Festival of Science and Enterprise.  

• Last summer, more than 22,500 pupils from across Scotland met the astronauts and scientists over the festival period. The programme helps young people understand how science and technology can lead to exciting career choices and boosts their enthusiasm for the subject.

For more information on the shuttle mission STS – 116, go to the NASA website at:

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts116/index.html

For further information, the Scottish Parliament media contact is:

Richard Holligan: 0131 348 5605
E-mail: richard.holligan@scottish.parliament.uk
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For public information enquiries, contact: 0131 348 5000 or 0845 278 1999 (local call rate)
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email: sp.info@scottish.parliament.uk

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