FOR many teenagers, work experience means a week stacking shelves in the local supermarket.

But Alexander Lawrenson found himself in Washington DC, hanging out with astronauts and helping build a satellite to be sent to the sun.

For the 15-year-old, of Baynes Street, Hoddlesden, landed a placement with space agency NASA.

Alexander, who has always wanted to be an astronaut, got lucky through his uncle, John Higgins, a PE teacher at St Thomas CE Primary School, Newton Street, Blackburn.

Mr Higgins teaches football to American children during the summer, and one of the youngster's mothers works for NASA.

Alexander said: "I didn't want to work at a supermarket or somewhere like that, which is what most people seemed to do.

"But I have wanted to be an astronaut ever since I was born.

"I was nervous when I first arrived, as I had never been to America before, but everyone was very friendly."

Security was tight at the Solar Dynamics Observatory, where Alexander was based, but he managed to lend a hand checking equipment and shadowed key people in the £1billion project to send a satellite to the sun.

Once completed, it will send data back to earth every half an hour. The satellite currently in use only sends back data once a week.

He also got a tour around NASA headquarters, and even posed as a technician when a film-maker came to shoot a movie at the observatory.

There was also time to look at the White House, and watch American football.

One of the highlights was when a group of astronauts arrived to practise on the satellite, and Alexander interviewed one of the team over lunch.

He said: "That was one of the best bits. They were all very nice people, and it has made me want to be an astronaut even more."

Alexander, who goes to Canon Slade School, Bolton, came back to earth when he flew home yesterday.

He is now hoping to get into the industry by learning about electronics.

And he made such a good impression the family have been invited next December to the satellite's launch in Florida.

Dad Paul, 52, added: "We are going to go whatever the cost.

"You are never going to have a chance like that again."