Rocketeers
10 x 7mins
RTÉjr Space/Science series
For kids fascinated by the night sky and its many wonders, Rocketeers will take a look at this great universe we call home.
Rocketeers is a new ten part space series for RTÉjr. Why does the moon change shape? How can I get to Space? How many stars are there? How much Space is in Space? These are just some of the questions we will ask and answer in this exciting new series exploring the Cosmos and beyond for RTÉ Jr. Each episode will see our team of cosmic adventurers and their space guide Simon Watt embarking on an interstellar adventure as they answer all manner of Space related questions.
Children are fascinated by space and this fascination begins at a very young age. Over the course of the series, Rocketeers will travel to the moons of Jupiter and explore the possibility of life on distant worlds and learn how modern day scientists are pushing the limits of space exploration every day. We will build a robot with the help of Robotics Ireland, launch a model rocket and stay up all night to explore a spectacular starlit sky in south Kerry – officially designated a Dark-Sky Reserve because it has so little light pollution from humans.
Each episode will feature our night adventurers – the Rocketeers, children aged between seven and nine, and they will begin the show by posing a big question or challenge. Over the course of each episode they will investigate this question. Guiding them along the way will be scientist and space enthusiast Simon Watt. The potential topics are endless…..much like the Universe itself! Combining field trips, night sky watches, animations, practical experiments, fun and quirky facts and engaging onscreen talent, Rocketeers brings the wonders of the cosmos to an Irish junior audience.
ROCKETEERS – EPISODE DESCRIPTION & RUNNING ORDER
PROGRAMME 1 – How do we know so much about Space?
Saturday October 8th at 5.10pm on RTÉ Jr.
Aishah and Faith are from Blanchardstown and are always asking questions. They are wondering about Space exploration and how exactly we know so much, or maybe so little, about the great Universe. Teaming up with Simon they head to Dunsink Observatory to learn about all the different ways of studying Space and the importance of just being curious if you want to get there some day!
PROGRAMME 2 – What can we see in the night sky?
Sunday October 9th at 5.10pm on RTÉ Jr.
Brothers and sisters Art, Anna & Evie have come to the Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve to look at what you can see in the night sky. Settling down by a campfire for the evening with some hot chocolate, the Rocketeers look up and discover the universe above.
PROGRAMME 3 – How come we don’t fall off the Earth?
Monday October 10th at 5.15pm on RTÉ Jr.
Luke and Tim are brothers from Birr, Co. Offaly. They are space crazy and are constantly asking questions. In this episode they will ask ‘How come we don’t fall off the earth?’ and explore a mysterious force called Gravity, which keeps us all well and truly grounded!
PROGRAMME 4 – How much Space is there in Space?
Tuesday October 11th at 5.15pm on RTÉ Jr.
Space is absoultely huge so our Kerry Rocketeers – Anna, Eimer, Paddy & Padraig are going to need help from Simon and sand artist Sean to try to figure out just exactly how huge it is. They learn a rhyme to help them remember the names of the planets before they attempt to draw a map of our Solar System across the strand.
PROGRAMME 5 – Saturday – Why is the Sun so important?
Wednesday October 12th at 5.15pm on RTÉ Jr.
Simon is going to team up with best friends Eva and Karl from Carrickmacross, to explore the importance of the Sun. They will discover how our ancestors were obsessed with our most powerful and beautiful star and will get to look at it close-up through a very special solar telescope.
PROGRAMME 6 – Why does the Moon change shape?
Thursday October 13th at 5.15pm on RTÉ Jr.
Rocketeers Anna & Suzel from Kerry will have to stay up late to look at the Moon and try to find out why it changes shape. They will take a trip to the seaside and look at the daily impact the moon has on our planet Earth.
PROGRAMME 7 – What does it feel like in Space?
Friday October 14th at 5.15pm on RTÉ Jr.
Luke & Ryan are today’s space cadets and they are best friends through school. They are going to find out what it feels like to live in space. For their astronaut challenge have an action packed adventure as the go on a rollercoaster, go scuba diving and step into the world of virtual reality.
PROGRAMME 8 – How do I get to Space?
Saturday October 15th at 5.10pm on RTÉ Jr.
Best friends Caimin, age 6 & Laoise, age 8, from Dublin are today’s Rocketeers. They will team up with Rocketry Ireland to build and launch their own rocket and will look at the science behind getting into Space.
PROGRAMME 9 – Why is there a Robot on Mars?
Sunday October 16th at 5.10pm on RTÉ Jr.
Rocketeers Finn and Aaron from Athenry are going to see what it’s like to be a Robotics Engineer for the day. Heading to the Burren in Co. Clare, they will team up with Robotics Ireland and find out why we have sent a Robot to wander around Mars.
PROGRAMME 10 – What do we look like from Space?
Monday October 17th at 5.15pm on RTÉ Jr.
Lucy & Hazel are friends from Tralee, Co. Kerry, and they are wondering what our home, Planet Earth, looks like from Space. Teaming up with meterologist Emilia from the Valentia Observatory, the girls go about getting the ultimate selfie – a portrait of our planet from high above the clouds.
Rocketeers is produced by Crossing the Line Productions.
Rocketeers is funded by RTÉjr and the European Regional Development Fund and Science Foundation Ireland under its Discover Programme Call.