POETRY writers have an out-of-this-world chance to have their work sent into outer space, thanks to Sheffield’s own space pioneers.
Alex Baker and Chris Rose, Sheffield University students in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, aim to repeat their feat of last year when they successfully photographed the Earth from space via a hot air balloon they made.
But when the balloon goes up, up and away this time, it will be carrying a poem on board. It could be yours.
The University of Sheffield is hosting a poetry competition inviting students, staff and city folk to submit poems with the theme of Space.
Poems will be judged by a panel including one of Britain’s most popular poets Simon Armitage, the university Professor of Poetry.
The text and a recording of the winning entry will be sent into space during the Festival of the Mind launch party in Weston Park, on Thursday, September 20. It will go up in a new ‘space’ balloon constructed by Alex and Chris.
They have photographed Earth from high in the atmosphere using homemade equipment, at a cost of just £350, launched in Derbyshire.
They used a helium-filled balloon to send up a foam box with two video cameras and a GPS tracker. It is believed to have reached an altitude of 37km before popping, with a parachute bringing the equipment back to Earth, landing in a Cambridgeshire field more than 100 miles away.
The competition is open until Friday, September 14, at 5pm. Enter on postcards available from Firth Court Porters’ Lodge, the School of English Reception in Jessop West, or email joe.oliver@sheffield.ac.uk
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