Astropi

Astro Pi Mission Zero gives real-world coding experience to club members!

In December, we watched two brand-new Astro Pi units launch into space for the European Astro Pi challenge. They’re now on board the International Space Station (ISS) ready to run young learners’ Astro Pi Mission Zero code! 

What is Astro Pi Mission Zero? 

Astro Pi Mission Zero is an engaging beginners’ coding challenge, open to all young people under the age of 19 in ESA member and associate states.

Using the step-by-step instructions young people will write a simple Python programme, which will display a message to the astronauts on board the ISS using the Astro Pi units.

First-hand experience 

Teacher Sophie Hudson, from Linton-on-Ouse Primary School, shares her experience taking part in Astro Pi Mission Zero, and why the bespoke certificates caused excitement amongst her club members!

“Although it might look daunting, it is actually very manageable! I did complete it myself first so that I knew what to do and had got my head around it. The instructions were very clear and helpful, making it manageable step-by-step.

Make sure you emphasise the real-world impact the activity has – their work is actually going into space!

The certificates were also a big excitement as they were interested to find where on the ISS their code was run.”

Educator, Sophie Hudson

Conversations on space

Our fascination with space is universal! Astro Pi Mission Zero gives young coders real-world experience, whilst supporting curriculum learning outside of the classroom.

Inquisitive minds are able to explore space science first-hand, asking questions that matter to them. Educator Ruth Laird from St Paul’s Code Club in York, has had just this experience: 

“It makes them more aware of what sort of things happen on the International Space Station and lets them be a part of it too. The excitement on the kid’s faces when you tell them that their code will actually be run there is unbelievable. 

Projects like this open up other conversations too. I had kids asking me how the astronauts go to the toilet and what they do with the waste!”

Get ready for blast off

Here are five things to remember before you head to space with Astro Pi Mission Zero:

  • You don’t need special equipment or coding skills
  • Register your club to take part in Mission Zero 
  • Plan one to two sessions in the new term to complete your mission
  • Club members will receive a special certificate showing exactly where the ISS was when their program ran
  • The closing date for entries is Friday 18 March 

Connect with the Code Club team on Twitter at Code Club UK or Code Club World and let us know how your coders get on with Astro Pi Mission Zero!

3…2…1… Blast off with Code Club for World Space Week!

Fuel your coders’ imagination and take part in World Space Week (4–10 October) — the largest annual space event in the world! 

Explore our space-themed projects, celebrate the women who have paved the way for space exploration, and learn how your club can send a message into space with the European Astro Pi Challenge Mission Zero.

Women in space 

From Margaret Hamilton’s code for NASA’s Apollo 11 mission in 1969, to Wally Funk joining Blue Origin Crew on board the New Shepard rocket in July, women have been an integral part of space exploration for centuries. 

Here are three real roles models you can talk about in your classroom who have made an impact on space exploration: 

  1. Katherine Johnson, born in 1918, developed calculations that synched Apollo’s Lunar Lander with the moon orbiting Command and Service Module.
  2. Mary Jackson, born in 1921, was the first black female engineer for NASA. She worked to impact the hiring of the next generation of women at NASA. 
  3. Jessica Ulrika Meir, born in 1977, joined Christina Koch on 18 October 2019 for the first all-female spacewalk!

Let the exploration begin 

Our space-themed project collection includes eight projects to appeal to the space-loving coders in your club.

The collection features a brand-new beginner’s Scratch project called ‘Space talk’, where children learn how to add sprites and backdrops and are introduced to ‘look’ and ‘sound’ code blocks to make their sprite emote! 

Space talk

For your more confident coders, explore our Python project called ‘Where is the Space Station?‘. Learners use a web service to find out the current location of the International Space Station (ISS) and plot its location on a map.

If you’re based in the UK, the USA, India, or Ireland, head to your dashboard, ‘Resources’ and scroll down to the ‘Learning resources’ section to download your copy of our space-themed collection. 

If you’re based outside of the UK, the USA, India, or Ireland, head to our Code Club international website.

Space-themed project collection

Send a message to the International Space Station

Bring space exploration to your classroom by taking part in the European Astro Pi Challenge Mission Zero, an ESA Education project run by the Raspberry Pi Foundation. To enter, young people just need to write a simple Python program that will display a message on the International Space Station (ISS)! 

There’s something extra special about this year’s challenge! All Mission Zero participants will have 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 — how cool is that?

Find out if your club is eligible to take part in Mission Zero and how you can include a name choice in your submission with this handy project guide.

Our new project paths and European Astro Pi Challenge Mission Zero have easy to follow step-by-step instructions, allowing both young coders and educators to reach for the stars, learn together, and succeed!

Share your successes with us on Twitter using the hashtag #MyCodeClub

A sneak preview at what to expect from Code Club this September!

With the new term approaching, we ask Tamasin Greenough Graham, our new Head of Code Club, to share some details about the new Code Club resources and support available to you this September. 

A fresh set of club organiser resources! 

We’ve launched our brand-new digital Club Organiser Pack, which is bursting at the seams with seven new resources to support you this term! 

The club organisers’ guide is full of useful tips to help you feel confident running your club sessions. Have fun with the Code Club bingo card, and celebrate your #MyCodeClub success stories with our NEW educator cards and GIFs designed for your social accounts! 

If you are based in the UK, Ireland, US, or India, you can log in to your dashboard to download the pack. If you’re based somewhere else in the world, just head to our Code Club international website. 

Head to space from your classroom this term 

We are celebrating World Space Week (4–10 October) with a collection of space-themed projects to inspire your space-mad club members on the topic of space! 

There’s something for everyone, from new coders to the more experienced. Check back on our blog later this month to find out more.

Book a chat with us! 

Do you run a Code Club in the UK or Ireland and have any questions about getting back to Code Club this term? We are on hand to help! Our support help calendar has slots available throughout the week for you to book a video chat with a member of the friendly team.  

Run your code in space 

In September, join us to celebrate the launch of The European Astro Pi Challenge, an ESA Education project run in collaboration with the Raspberry Pi Foundation. 

It offers young people the opportunity to conduct scientific investigations in space by writing computer programs that run on Raspberry Pi computers on board the International Space Station (ISS).

There’s something extra special about this year’s challenge, so assemble your crew, and count down to blast off! 

Building your confidence 

Soon we will be launching new project path crib sheets to help build confidence around our projects. They will help you learn key coding terms and common sticking points, to get you Code Club ready to run your sessions. 

These crib sheets will launch in mid-September. Keep an eye on Twitter and Facebook for the announcement! 

Join our Gender Balance in Computing programme

Starting a Code Club in England this term gives you the opportunity to join our world-leading Gender Balance in Computing research programme and help us understand what inspires young people to study computing at school! There’s no extra work involved and you’ll get your hands on 12 weeks of resources for your club as well as a FREE book Computer Coding for Kids by Carol Vorderman as our way of saying ‘thank you’! 

Sign up and join GBIC today!

We’re here to support you and your Code Club — no question is too small! The team can be contacted at support@codeclub.org. If you have a success story, we’d love to hear what you’ve been up to!