Pupils across Kent are counting down the moments until their contact with astronaut Tim Peake takes off later today.

An out-of-this-world experience will be had by youngsters from 23 schools as they arrive at Wellesley House School in Broadstairs.

Their space extravaganza begins at 9am and will involve a planetarium, a spaceflight, a spacesuit and astronomy with the Royal Observatory.

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Wellesley House School headmaster Simon O’Malley said: “We are all so inspired by the possibility of speaking with Tim Peake and we are fully committed to preparing the pupils for the possibilities that lie ahead of us.”

Britain’s newest potential space cadets will also take part in an astronaut boot camp.

At noon, pupils and teachers from a range of nursery, primary and secondary schools will have a Q&A session and then begin rehearsing for radio contact with Tim Peake at 1.10pm.

Collaboration between amateur radio on the International Space Station (ARISS), the Radio Society of Great Britain (RGSB), the UK Space Agency and the European Space Agency has meant this is possible.

Major Tim Peake blasted off from Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan in November 2015.

He is nearing the end of a six-month project on the International Space Station.

It is the first time a British astronaut has stayed on the International Space Station in an official capacity.

Students will be able to directly ask Tim questions about his life and work on board the space station.

KentOnline will be there throughout the morning watching the schoolchildren explore the final frontier.