The pupils will spend two weeks in Houston

Ysgol Uwchradd Tregaron pupils Dan Thomas and Llyr Garner have been selected to take part in Nasa's International Space School.

The pair will join more than 30 other students from 17 countries to develop a simulated manned mission to Mars.

The students will have the chance to live and work alongside Nasa astronauts and scientists as well as working with an international team of students.

This will be the biggest experience of my life Llyr Garner

In charge of the school will be Chris Greenfield, head of science at Tregaron Secondary School.

He has worked at the Space School for the last seven years and asked Nasa if a place could be found for one student from the school.

Astronauts

"We found out that we had two excellent candidates and Nasa agreed that they should both have the opportunity to attend the school," said Mr Greenfield.

During their stay at Houston, students will stay with astronauts and their families as well as working with top scientists.

The two-week course will involve students being split into four groups to organise the mission.

"The project will involve organisation, propulsion to Mars, landing on the red planet and living there," added Mr Greenfield.

Head teacher, Gwenallt Llwyd Ifan: The trip will give the school a boost

Both pupils said they were delighted to have the opportunity to travel to Houston.

"This will be the biggest experience of my life," said Llyr Garner who intends to study electronic engineering once he has completed his GCSEs this summer.

"It's always been a dream of mine to work at Nasa and I intend to go back there once I have finished my studies," he added.

Dan Thomas said he had always been interested in space travel.

"This is a fantastic opportunity to mix with astronauts and people from other countries," he said.

"I can speak a bit of French so I should be alright."

Tregaron school's head teacher, Gwenallt Llwyd Ifan said the trip would enrich the experience of the two pupils as well as provide a boost for the school.

"Who knows we may well see the Red Dragon on Mars one day," he added.

But this is not the first time that Tregaron has been linked with space travel.

The mother of American astronaut, Joe Tanner, is from the area and was a pupil at Tregaron school.

This year's International Space School is going ahead despite the space shuttle disaster earlier this year.

Other countries taking part in the school include Canada, South Africa, India, Germany, Russia and France.

The school is hosted jointly by the University of Houston, Clear Lake and the Johnson Space Centre.