FORMER Nasa astronauts launched a week-long space school for hundreds of young people in a Scottish first.

About 200 S3-S5 pupils from Renfrewshire are taking part in Mission Discovery, an international educational programme which is being brought to Scotland for the first time.

They will work with former astronauts, scientists and trainers to come up with an idea for an experiment to be carried out in space.

The best idea will be built and launched to the International Space Station, where astronauts will carry it out.

Former Nasa space shuttle commander Ken Ham said: "A wonderful aspect of working with youth, particularly these ages, is that they come up with the most amazing ideas that none of us old adults can come up with on our own - it could be from physical sciences to medical sciences, wherever your imagination can take you."