WATCH: Hartlepool girl questions astronaut Tim Peake in space

A Hartlepool girl was over the moon after being selected to send a question into space.
By The Newsroom
Published 3rd Feb 2016, 10:35 BST
Updated 3rd Feb 2016, 10:39 BST
Chloe Gale with a photograph of British astronaut Tim Peake.Chloe Gale with a photograph of British astronaut Tim Peake.
Chloe Gale with a photograph of British astronaut Tim Peake.

Chloe Gale, who attends Golden Flatts Primary School, was chosen from thousands of pupils to put a question to astronaut Major Tim Peake when he spoke to children live from the International Space Station.

Chloe appeared over the moon as she asked: “Why doesn’t space have any gravity?”

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Chloe Gale with a photograph of British astronaut Tim Peake.Chloe Gale with a photograph of British astronaut Tim Peake.
Chloe Gale with a photograph of British astronaut Tim Peake.

Major Peake told her that it was a “great question”, despite it being “tricky” to answer.

He added that in space there was almost as much gravity as on earth – but that they “trick planet earth by travelling so fast”.

The Year 5 pupils from the Seaton Lane school travelled to the World Museum, in Liverpool, to speak directly to the astronaut.

They were one of 11 classes chosen from schools around the country to take part in the special event.

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British astronaut Tim Peake joins children at Liverpool's World Museum from the International Space Station as they take part in the Cosmic Classroom event.British astronaut Tim Peake joins children at Liverpool's World Museum from the International Space Station as they take part in the Cosmic Classroom event.
British astronaut Tim Peake joins children at Liverpool's World Museum from the International Space Station as they take part in the Cosmic Classroom event.

Destination Space is a two-year programme funded by the UK Space Agency which aims to inspire young minds with the wonders of human spaceflight and the importance of science, technology, engineering and mathematical skills that make spaceflight possible.

Major Peake was quizzed by students during the 20-minute video call home, streamed to three cameras at the World Museum in Liverpool and watched from 300,000 children in classrooms across the country.

Major Peake, 43, is the first British astronaut to carry out a spacewalk and is more than a month into a six-month mission on board the ISS, carrying out experiments and research.

During the ‘Cosmic Classroom’ event, which was possible thanks to a signal being sent down to America and beamed across to Liverpool, Major Peake demonstrated a number of science experiments for pupils to copy.

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A man in a space suit with children at Liverpool's World Museum as they take part in Cosmic Classroom event.A man in a space suit with children at Liverpool's World Museum as they take part in Cosmic Classroom event.
A man in a space suit with children at Liverpool's World Museum as they take part in Cosmic Classroom event.

In a zero-gravity game of “Follow the Leader”, he was asked to crouch down, spin around, touch his toes and drink water.

Major Peake said to students: “I have had an absolutely fantastic time talking to you this afternoon, thank you so much for joining in.

“Continue to have fun. Enjoy your studying and I hope you enjoy learning about space and remember to just do what you really enjoy doing.”

Related topics:Tim PeakeHartlepoolLiverpool