Schools across Hartlepool and East Durham have hosted visits by some of the elite few who have experienced space travel.
Others have enjoyed liaising with astronauts who have supported initiatives at their school.
And as the world got ready to welcome the dawn of a new era in space travel – with the first launch of astronauts from US soil since 2011 and the first ever private vehicle journey to the international space station – we took a look at our links to the world of the astronaut.
Remember these scenes?
And as the world got ready to welcome the dawn of a new era in space travel – with the first launch of astronauts from US soil since 2011 and the first ever private vehicle journey to the international space station – we took a look at our links to the world of the astronaut.