Fly me to the moon

The first I knew that we had problems was when the space shuttle commander collapsed on to the controls. Next, the cabin began to decompress. And then, before I knew it, a fire had broken out on board. It was time to call mission control.

In reality, we'd all have been killed. Luckily, this shuttle catastrophe was only a simulation. Incidents like this are all in a day's work at the Advanced Space Academy in Huntsville, Alabama, which is a fun-packed teenage training camp for potential astronauts.

I've been fascinated by space ever since I was small and always wanted to be an astronaut. When my school, Bramcote Hills comprehensive, Nottinghamshire, announced that everyone in Year 10 would be doing two weeks' work-experience this summer, I jumped at the chance to put my dream to the test.

While most of my friends searched for positions in local offices, I logged on to the Internet and found the Alabama Space Camp - the only space camp in the world with a section that's aimed at those aged 15 to 18. I was lucky enough to secure a place and, three weeks ago, I found myself en route to the most exciting time of my life.

The course is based at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, the world's largest space museum, and lasts for five days. I was in a group with 17 other teenagers and apart from two Australians, I was the only non-American.

Our daily routine was hard work, but fun. We underwent activities Nasa uses to train its astronauts. These included a simulated space shuttle mission, trials in an underwater tank and rides in a gravity chair and a G-force machine. We were assessed to see how we performed as a team under stress.

The equipment was mind-boggling. The Saturn V rocket was intended for an Apollo mission that was cancelled. There was also a replica of the shuttle, as well as a space station that had been built for the course.

The 'space shot' looked like a giant crane the height of a rocket. You strapped yourself into a chair and stretched out your arms and legs. The chair then shot upwards at immense speed to simulate lift-off. When the chair hits the top you get two seconds of weightlessness as you float out of your seat before hitting your shoulder pads.

The G-force machine exerted a powerful centrifugal force which simulates the experience of take-off. You're spun around at 50mph while the seat slides up and down, flying outwards. It teaches you to concentrate hard on your breathing.

Not all the course involved 'space rides'. Much of our time was spent working on simulated space missions that lasted up to six hours.

We were split into three groups and were given specific tasks. One group was sent to man a simplified version of Nasa's mission control; another was 'flying' the mock-shuttle; while the third was running the 'space station'.

Although all the equipment was housed in the same giant warehouse, the contact between each module was via a system of computers and TV cameras. At 'mission control' for instance, it made it easier to imagine that the space crew were 200 miles above us, orbiting the earth.

On the 'shuttle', as it shot into orbit, there were unexpected emergencies that we had to solve. It was very realistic; everyone knew they were on camera and made the most of acting out the emergency.

On my first training mission, my team was posted to the space station. Suddenly, the emergency lights flashed and the buzzers sounded, indicating a nitrogen valve problem. We hoped it would go away but eventually we consulted the checklists, pressed the right buttons and got the emergency under control.

Our next mission was far more testing, as we were placed in a catastrophic situation. My team was in mission control and, in the first 10 minutes of the launch sequence, there were problems with the orbiter and the flight was aborted.

After three training missions, we did an extended mission of six hours. While I was in mission control, the commander had suffered a heart attack and collapsed. I looked at the screen and found him sprawled over the controls. Worse still, cabin pressure was being lost and the crew were suffering from decompression sickness.

For the second stage of the exercise, my team was moved to the shuttle. The disaster went from bad to worse. Unbeknown to us, the cabin was losing pressure, causing illness. One of the crew tried to decompress the shuttle by opening the hatch and then we were informed that a fire had broken out on board. We were about to re-enter the atmosphere and 27 of my 28 red warning lights were flashing. Mission control called us to say that in real life we'd all be dead.

Such a catastrophe could never happen but it taught us how to react in extreme situations.

The Huntsville course was not just about simulation, because there was also practical work. One day we had to build Mars buggies out of special equipment. This was not easy, as the wheels and axles had to move in every possible way. We also built our own miniature rocket with a solid fuel engine. We lit it with a charge and it shot up several hundred feet before coming back to land with a parachute.

One of my favourite simulators was the One-Sixth Gravity Chair, a piece of equipment that mimics the gravity of the moon by using ropes and springs to counter-balance your weight. As you walk, it feels like you're bouncing along a rock-hard moonscape.

I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I've always vowed that I don't want to be stuck in an office all my life, staring into a computer. I want to do something I love and have fun.

When I've done my GCSEs and A-levels, I hope to go back to America to do my degree. Even if I don't make it as an astronaut, the space industry is huge with lots of great jobs.

My schoolfriends and teachers have been incredibly supportive but some of the lads in my class told me I'd never be able to do my two weeks' work experience in an American space centre.

Well I did and it was great. I feel like I've been to the moon and back.

Getting there

The Advanced Space Academy in Huntsville, Alabama, is a five-day programme for students aged 15-18. Tuition costs $899 (£600). For further information call 001 256 721 7150 (fax: 001 256 890 3371) or visit website www.spacecamp.com and www.dogfite.com . Alternatively write to US Space Camp Reservations, PO Box 070015, Huntsville, AL 35807-7015 USA. US Airways (0800 783 5556) flies daily from Manchester and Gatwick to Huntsville. Return fares from London cost from £427 and from Manchester £499.

Jo Morris was talking to Giles Milton.