SOUTH Hams student Steven Frazier-Roberts won a free trip to the Kennedy Space Centre, Florida, to see the launch of an experimental Orion rocket.

Steven, 20, was part of a team which design­ed a new-era spacesuit for astronauts – and won his chance to watch the launch from NASA, ?the US Nation­al Aero­nautics and Space Administration.

The team took part in the 48-hour Inte­rnational NASA Space Apps global challenge 'for a bit of fun'.

They ended up winning first the local, then the national and, finally, the international heats with their 'Space Wearables: Fashion Designer to Astronauts challenge' entry beating more than 8,000 of the best and brightest participants from around the world.

The aim of the project was to 'design clothing that is uniquely useful in its functionality for astronauts working on the space station – has applications on Earth – and looks super cool.'

The team, consisting of technologists, artists, fashion designers and software developers, describe their suit on the Space Apps Chall­enge website: 'The suit and accessories include integration with social networking platforms to allow the astronauts to be better connected to ground crew, family, friends and followers on Earth and create greater understanding of the work that takes place on the ISS.

'Internet connected functionality includes: a vision board on the suit sleeve that displays live weather status for the wearer's home location, a "weble hug" – using inflatable material that squeezes the wearers shoulders when the family member on Earth wants to let the astronaut know they're thinking of them – and a 3D printer in the pocket that delivers tools/parts/gifts direct to the suit.

'We also designed and successfully tested a mission patch for people on Earth to wear and connect to a mission to the ISS in 2015.'

Roger Pope, principal at Kingsbridge Community College, where Steven went to school, said: 'Steven and his team spent two days at the Met Office in Exeter working to design a new interactive spacesuit. Steven was responsible for designing all of the microelectronics and we are delighted that he has had this success.'

Steven's father Peter Roberts said: 'Kingsbridge Comm­unity College were fantastic with Steven.

'He got good GCSE and A-level results but he was bored at school quite easily and they recognised that.

'They allowed him to focus on what he loved doing – computer software and designing light and sound systems – things you can't teach in school – so he worked on the school systems.

'Roger Pope is really interested in the whole person, not just exam results. He is keen not to force young people into definite 'boxes'.

Steven was planning to go to York University but he was headhunted by a company at just 17 years old.

'His company have paid for him to go through university and he's done his degree and masters in three and a bit years.

'He's also a talented musician, playing the violin and piano.

'Any spare time is taken up designing and running light and sound systems for parties and events.'

Steven and his team went to see the Orion launch on December 10.