It is “lift off” for two Highland school pupils who have headed across the Atlantic to NASA’s Space Centre at Houston.
Elizabeth Gordon, from Nairn Academy, and James Walton, Millburn Academy, are among 10 youngsters from Scottish schools on the trip.
It has been organised by the Scottish Space School at Strathclyde University.
The pupils earned their places on the trip after attending a week-long residential “space school” event at the university, which was aimed at inspiring young people to consider careers in engineering.
They will have a rare opportunity to meet astronauts, engineers and scientists working on the space programme.
Gordon McVie, outreach coordinator at Strathclyde’s Faculty of Engineering, said: “The Scottish Space School has been attended by many young people who have since progressed to successful careers with links to their experiences with us.
“The trip to Houston is a fantastic opportunity for this year’s pupils to see for themselves some of the world’s leading professionals in science and engineering.
“They showed great promise at the Space School and will be shown the vast range of possible careers open to them.”
They were travelling to Houston from on Friday for an eight-day visit.