by business editor Trevor Sturgess

Crew from the Space Shuttle Atlantis will be in Kent this week to inspire young people to achieve their dreams.

Invicta Education Business Partnership has arranged the visit that is also designed to promote interest in science, maths and engineering.

Shuttle members returned from the International Space Station (ISS) on May 26 and Kent is to be one of their first overseas assignments since touchdown. Led by Commander Ken Ham, they will be visiting schools in Maidstone, Longfield, Dartford.

Other members of the group include Emily Nelson, flight director from Mission Control in Houston and Michelle Ham, team leader for astronaut training.

On July 2, they will be guests at a breakfast meeting in the Ramada Hotel, Hollingbourne, followed by a dinner with guests from education and business.

Alan Mount, chief executive of Invicta EBP, said the visit was all about inspiring young people to have ambitions and fulfil their dreams. "The crew are all veterans of various space missions, including servicing the Hubble Telescope, one spent three months on the ISS, four have completed a number of space walks, so will have very interesting stories to tell. This is an opportunity not to be missed."