ROMSEY cadets were left feeling ‘out of this world’ after completing an astronomical challenge in order to raise much needed funds for their upcoming projects.

Cadets and staff from 1391 Squadron Air Training Corps spent 24 hours over the last weekend undertaking a sponsored walk around the Romsey School sports field with the aim of raising money to support their STEM (science, technology, engineering, and Mathematics) endeavours over the next year.

The goal was to walk the approximately 830 kilometres - the vertical distance to the International Space Station and back to Earth - as a team.

Last winter the cadets spent time learning about space travel and built robots of their own, and the squadron remain keen on promoting STEM projects.

The walk commenced at 7.30pm on Friday evening, with the squadron successfully tackling the first 250km before most of the cadets departed for the night.

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Flight Lieutenant Bertie Green and Flight Sergeant Symonds then led a smaller team of seven cadets to continue the challenge throughout the night.

Buoyed in their efforts by seeing the ISS pass overhead during the clear night, the nightshift succeeded in reaching their first target of the station at about 03.30am.

The night shift was relieved from 7am where the drive to “get back to earth” really started in earnest.

Staff and cadets arrived in waves with the Squadron Commander, Flight Lieutenant Julia Whalvin, taking over control of the operation.

The cadets carried on around the course and over the remaining 12 hours - revived by continued support from staff and the occasional ice-cream - crossed the finish line at 5.30pm, some 22 hours after they started the challenge.

Flight Lieutenant Whalvin said: “This is a great effort by the whole team. Some of the cadets have walked over 30km and every one of them has done their best.

“We’ve raised over £1000 to spend on projects from drones to electronic systems all designed to get the cadets a practical interest in all things technical something that both the RAF and industry need in the future.”

Romsey Air Cadets meet on a Tuesday and Friday evening. The group is open to all young people in Year eight and above. Anyone interested can contact the Squadron Commander on oc.1391@rafac.mod.gov.uk

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