.The pupils will be given a rare chance to meet many of the astronauts, engineers and scientists working on the space programme.
They were selected from 120 pupils who attended the residential Scottish Space School, run by Strathclyde University, earlier this year. The Scottish Space School programme gives pupils an insight into the career and educational opportunities available through studying science, engineering and technology.
Scott MacGregor, dean of Strathclyde University’s faculty of engineering, said: “The pursuit of space travel has played a key role in supporting the development of technologies that many of us use every day - from satellite TV to weather forecasting. These things are made possible through the ingenuity of our engineers and scientists.
“The residential space school and the trip to Houston are designed to give our young people a snapshot of the work undertaken by engineers and scientists, and of the exciting career possibilities available.”
The 12 pupils selected are: Douglas Birse, Linlithgow Academy, West Lothian; Jack Cunningham, Williamwood High, East Renfrewshire; Christopher Doyle, Bannerman High, Glasgow; Paula Clancy, Holy Cross High, South Lanarkshire; April Kilday, Cumnock Academy, East Ayrshire; Corrin MacKenzie, Inverness Royal Academy, Highland; Rachael McAughtrie, Grange Academy, East Ayrshire; Magnus More, Bell Baxter High, Fife; Holly O’Brien, King’s Park Secondary, Glasgow; Alison Ramsay, Bannerman High, Glasgow; Jan Robertson, Renfrew High, Paisley; and Mark Stewart, Gryffe High, Renfrewshire.