A TALENTED schoolgirl has shown star quality to win a prestigious competition to meet an astronaut.

Summer Burleigh, 10, got to meet NASA's Dr James Pawelczyk after taking top prize in the Mission to Mars competition, impressing judges with her essay on setting up home on the red planet.

It was run by the Physiological Society, Europe’s largest network of physiologists, and asked school children to think about what happens to the body in space and challenges we could face living on Mars.

Summer wrote a 500-word story which was shortlisted as one of three finalists in the nine to 11-year-old category.

The finalists' entries were judged Dr. Pawelczyk, an experienced astronaut who flew on the space shuttle Columbia in 1998 and now works as a NASA-funded investigator.

Summer and her family attended the prestigious competition final at the Royal Institution in London.

As well as getting to meet Dr Pawlecyzk, Summer won £50 for herself and £500 for her schoolmates at West Kilbride Primary.

Proud mum Mia told the News: "Summer's story was set in 2035 and based on the logistical challenges involved in setting up camp in Mars. She wrote about how robots could be used to help support life. Her essay looked at all the physiological effects on humans and how best to prepare for life in space.

"She wants to get more involved in science as she gets older."

Summer developed an interest in outer space after meeting Professor Julien Baker of the University of the West of Scotland through a school project.

The inquisitive youngster interviewed with the academic to gather information for her class and learned from him about the competition.

Mia added: "We are so proud of her. She did really well to win her age group and showed a real knowledge above her years of the science involved.

"Maybe she will make it into space herself one day!".