It's a blast for six space buffs
What you are about to read may sound like a scene from the Hollywood blockbuster Armageddon .
An American space shuttle piloted by six male and female astronauts are ducking and dodging a violent flow of asteroids in outer space.
Suddenly the spacecraft is hit by a giant unidentified flying object, and before anyone could say 'Argh!', the six crew members are being tossed from their seats.
The captain tries to regain control of the spacecraft but he fails. The strong turbulence causes the shuttle to spin out of control before plummeting more than 3,000 metres.
It is over.
Or, to be more precise, it is game over.
Six local boys and girls, all aged between nine and 11, are going to embark on a four-day training programme starting next month at the United States Space Camp in Orlando, Florida.
The above is a likely scenario during a drill at the simulated cockpit of a space shuttle, which will form a part of their training.
During their stay in the US, they will have the rare opportunity to experience real-life space training exercises. These will include space simulations, 1/6 Gravity Trainer, G-Force capsule, virtual reality moon walks and the Manned Manoeuvring Unit, in which they will be able to feel the impact of being blasted off into the atmosphere.
The six children are Arthur Wong Cheuk-wai, 10, Carol Chiu Jin-jin, 10, Yuki Leung Cheuk-yin, nine, Joey Au Yeung Chun-yu, 10, Levanna Lam Hiu-yeung, 10, and Julia Lee Hoi-yee, 11.
They negotiated three rounds of tough selection tests between June and July, which included physical tests and a quiz on space knowledge.
They were the final winners from among 1,000 applicants.
Entering its third year, the MassMutual Jr Space Camp Programme is organised by an American insurance company. 'I think the toughest part of the entire selection process is the interview, when I was asked questions about space and myself,' said Chun-yu, a Primary Five pupil at La Salle Primary School. 'I remember one of them asking me why I want to become an astronaut, and I was suddenly speechless, because I took it for granted that every boy has, at least once, dreamed about being an astronaut.'
The self-proclaimed Star Wars fanatic confessed he often fancied himself as Luke Skywalker the Jedi.
'But I guess I'm not going to get a light sabre there, am I?' Chun-yu shrugged.
'When I arrive at the space camp, I'll also ask people there whether Neil Armstrong's one small step on the moon is faked or not,' he laughed. 'I just can't figure it out. If the whole thing was a pack of lies, why didn't they just tell people they landed on Mars instead?'
