A stargazing teenager is looking ahead to the future after a “life changing” week at an American space school.

Last week, Abigail Whelan, 14, travelled to Huntsville, Alabama, after receiving a full scholarship for the prestigious Space Academy programme.

Abigail, of Kings Wood in Epping, spent six days at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center.

Along with 90 other intrepid teenagers, she took part in a course modelled on NASA’s official training programme.

Although Abigail’s had previously wanted to follow in the footsteps of astronauts such as Neil Armstrong or Yuri Gagarin, she said her ambitions were slightly changed by the experience.

“It was amazing, so much fun,” she said.

“I would still like to work for NASA, but I would much rather work in mission control, because we did some mock missions and for one I was flight director.

“I would still like to go into space though.”

Taking part in simulated flights to the International Space Station and the moon, Abigail also got the chance to test specialist equipment used to train astronauts.

Her interest stems from a belief in the importance of space exploration, she said.

“It is just important to explore.

“It is important because with space travel, we have gained so much technology.

“For instance, with the space shuttle we have got better planes, and with satellites we have phones.”

Her mother, Julie, 39, said: “I think it has been life-changing for her.

“She is always thinking what she would like to do, and this has given her more direction.”

She added: “It just puts things into perspective that she could actually do it.

“All she has to do is try her hardest and she can do what she wants to.”