Winners of the 2015-2016 Odysseus space science contest have travelled to French Guiana to observe the successful launch of an Ariane 5 rocket. The trip is just part of their reward for earning top honours at the Odysseus international finals in July. Equally exciting opportunities await young Europeans in the 2016-2017 contest cycle.
Witnessing a rocket launch at the spaceport in French Guiana was an extraordinary experience for the Odysseus prizewinners. “It was amazing just to watch the transfer of the rocket to the launch pad”, says Alice Antonelli from Italy. She won first place in the Explorers category of competition for university undergraduates. For Nelson Rebelo the trip was nothing less than “a dream come true”. Nelson was part of the three-member team of high-school students from Portugal who submitted the most convincing project in the Pioneers category. Next year too, first-prize winners in both categories can look forward to visiting Europe’s spaceport in South America and to earning coveted internships in the space sector.
