Students at a Trowbridge school got an out of this world experience after getting up close to the UK’s largest space rocket.

The 58-ft Nova 2, created by Starchaser, was brought to the John of Gaunt School in Wingfield Road, on Tuesday for students to have a look at.

The rocket, due to be launched unmanned into mid air in November, is a model for a larger rocket, which could see fare-paying tourists taken into space by 2013.

The visit formed part of a two-day rocket extravaganza at the school, with Year 7 students building their own compressed air rockets and 40 Year 9 students sending their chemical rockets hundreds of feet into the air.

Young potential space scientists also attended a cosmic chemistry lecture.

Emma Lydon, assistant headteacher, said: "2009 is a special year.

“It is 40 years since mankind landed on the Moon. We are proud that this is the biggest rocket ever to come to Wiltshire."