Well, this'll probably be the last post... I don't even know if it'll get onto the website - the Space School being officially over and all - but I felt we should at least try to tie everything up. The Mars Lander Challenge went extremely well, our lander very nearly hitting the target and very nearly achieving 7 second of airtime. And it was very nearly one of the best designed. So we must have very nearly won... Almost. At least the egg survived. A frantic half hour or so followed, as parts were allocated for the presentation of our Big Project. We knew - more or less - what we wanted to say, but not who was going to say it. Testament of our team's brilliance however - ;-) - we worked it all out on the way to our last ever gathering in Rm 3.45, where Heather Paul was to deliver another presentation. It was brilliant. Heather spoke all about her journey to working for NASA, and the determination and resilience she displayed was inspiring. The message which I think most of us took away was: "You can, and should, have both a dream and a goal." For example, her dream was to go into space, but her goal had been to work for NASA designing space suits. So although she achieved her goal (and has now set higher ones) she still strives to sneak aboard one of shuttles one day. Immediately after her talk, the teams were to present their Big Projects. And of course, Angara was first up. Despite the sound quality of our radio advert being slightly distorted by the speakers, our presentation went well. And we (unlike some of the other teams) kept within the 3 minute time limit! We returned to our seats proud of our efforts and relieved that it was over; glad of the opportunity to point and laugh - I mean watch respectfully - as the other teams came forward one by one and presented. However, every team presented well, and some of the projects devised showed a great deal of ingenuity and creativeness, and we were thoroughly impressed. Next up was the Gala Dinner and Ceilidh, however, unfortunately, one of our team members was unable to attend due to a rather inconvenient (and deadly boring) Prizegiving at his school... And even more unfortunately, that team member was me. So - as far as I am aware - the Gala Dinner was highly praised for both its quality of food and pleasant atmosphere, and I was real sorry to have missed it. Lucy was the lucky representative of our team who stood and thanked the NASA guests. Luckily, I managed to escape my school and get over to the Student Union in time to enjoy the final few dances of the Ceilidh, which was incredible! Everyone enjoyed an immensely good time, and were all - especially me, who had only just arrived - incredibly sad to see it end. As it drew to a close, and the mentors began rounding up their respective teams and herding us out into the lifts and stairs, Team Angara was able to hang back and sidle over to the one and only Nick Patrick! All thanks to our mentor, Stuart (who I'd just like to thank once again for everything!) who allowed a slight bending of the rules. The NASA astronaut very patiently signed all of our name badges and even posed for photos with us! He's just so cool! And so we were able to speak with him on the way out of the Student Union, just our team. It was awesome! / It being the last night and all, the curfew was relaxed slightly, and so after taking a series of team photos outside Forbes Hall under lamplight, we all - Stuart included - made our way up to Lucy's flat's common room, where - now free from all duties (like Big Project stuff and preparation for activities) - we just chilled out together. So reluctant were we for it to end, that when a knock sounded on the door for the headcount, we switched off the lights and hid (behind curtains, under tables, behind the TV...) in the hope that they would just believe the girls and move on. But they didn't even come in! They just opened the flat door and glanced about before leaving! Some of us had been really proud of our hiding places! Rather indignant, we all decided it would be good for a laugh to file out past the mentor on her way down the stairs, just to prove how many people she had missed in her headcount. Her face was priceless as Stuart - followed by six guys and a few girls - casually passed her at the door, having emerged from some unknown location. Regrettably, Friday morning arrived, and it was time for us all to pack our things and check out. The only thing lest on our agenda (besides the debrief and prize-giving) was the 'Robolympics'. Throughout the week there had been much speculation as to what this involved, although the much favoured theory was that it was "gonna be just like Robot Wars!". However, disaster struck! After having hauled our very heavy cases from Forbes Hall, down to the Village Office, over to the James Weir building and down all the stairs to the room where they were to be stored, we were informed that the water was broken! That's right, somebody broke the water! So, as health and safety dictated, we had to evacuate. Which involved trekking back to our cases, and grimly making our way back over towards Forbes Hall. As people began collapsing all around us from exhaustion and dehydration, Team Angara took turns carrying Ciara's second suitcase, and eventually made it, in one piece, to the lecture hall from the Evening with Nasa. Nah, it wasn't as bad as I make it out. But it was pretty tough. And we did carry Ciara's second suitcase. Anyway, as they weren't allowed to release us early, we were given the couple of hours set aside for the Robolympics - unfortunately cancelled - as free time. Luckily, the NASA guests arrived shortly after, and were swarmed with people eager to get signatures and photos. On the projector screen, teams were able to play some of their Big Projects again, this time along with outtakes. Generally, everyone actually had quite a good time, and we unanimously ignored the pending farewells which had to come after Gordon McVie's Debrief, content to just enjoy the time we had left together. The Prize-giving began, and despite our amazing performance and awesome teamwork, Team Angara didn't win anything! Well, we came third in the Rover Challenge. And I swear we must have been a close fourth in the Lander Challenge too. But we weren't about to let something like that ruin our moods, and so - despite being a little disappointed - we had a good laugh at the other teams' expense. Finally, we thanked all the NASA guests, and our mentors (who were presented mission decals from the STS - 130 by Nicholas Patrick himself! Lucky guys!) and Gordon McVie - who received a grateful standing ovation. And so, with nothing else remaining, Gordon closed the Scottish Space School 2010. Trying our best not to appear too disheartened, we gradually made our way out of the lecture theatre and grabbed our luggage, hugging and farewell-ing as we went. Eventually we ended up just outside the building, sitting on our cases in the sun, and promised we'd see each other again We had hoped Stuart would come out the building the same way we had, so we could all say a final goodbye to him, but as time passed and people had to start leaving as various parents arrived and trains threatened to leave, eventually we dispersed. When I left, Lucy and Ciara were still there, so I hope they maybe got to see Stuart before they left, but if they didn't (and even if they did)... BYE STUART! Throughout the week we all grew really close, and I know most of us will stay in touch, but it would have been so much harder - and so much less fun - without our amazing mentor Stuart. So, finally, in what's probably the last post in our wee blog, I want to thank not only Strathclyde Uni, Marriane Ballantyne and Gordon McVie for hosting and organizing the whole thing, and of course the brilliant guests from Nasa and Kevin Warrick from the University of Reading, but most of all I want to thank Stuart Cunningham for being such a great mentor. Team Angara, over and out. Scott Melville (on behalf of all of Team Angara; Ralph, Mark, Calum, Finlay, Robb, Irina, Lucy, Megan and Ciara)