An astronaut has called for more children to study maths and science so they are prepared for a future boom in space-related jobs.
James F Reilly, who completed three space missions and now works for the Kennedy Space Centre, predicted space tourism will become routine and trips to Mars will be possible within the lifetime of today’s schoolchildren.
To prepare them he said it is vital that they study STEM subjects — science, technology, engineering and maths.
He added that today’s schoolchildren should plan to get jobs in space-related industries, rather than computer programming and app development.
Mr Reilly, 61, flew from his home in Colorado to the UK to speak to children and told them it is important that girls take STEM subjects as well as boys.
He said: “My sister is much smarter at maths than me. It is not a gender limited capability. Don’t listen to the culture that says it is a boys’ subject.”
He added: “Space tourism will be normal within an eight-year-old’s lifetime. I think visiting Mars will be possible. It will be like visiting Antarctica is now — an adventure destination.”
Mr Reilly said children currently learning to design iPhone apps could start thinking about how to make it possible to live on Mars. He added: “I tell children it was my dream to be an astronaut from the age of eight. It took me a long time to get there and the key thing is not to give up.”
The best piece of advice he received was to spend a few seconds of his space walk enjoying the moment. He said: “I had 10 seconds, I lay back in my suit and saw the Earth going by. All you come back with is your memories.”
Mr Reilly visited Ropley Primary School in Hampshire to speak to students and Wembley Stadium to speak to tourist experts.
