The 17-year-old Hunter School of Performing Arts student returned recently from NASA, in the United States, where he took part in a youth astronaut program.

James, along with several other Australian students, was hand-picked for the program, and, after impressing organisers, will return to NASA in a teaching capacity.

The year 11 student, who is living the dream of many youngsters, was asked to return, all expenses paid, to help teach the next round of students in the youth astronaut program.

His recent trip started in California, at a science and engineering challenge.

"I was selected as leader of the group and it was my group that actually won [the challenge]," he said.

The challenge comprised two sections.

Competitors had to make a robotic Mars rover, a remote-controlled model vehicle able to travel over rough terrain without breaking and to pick up rocks.

"We also had to make a Martian lander and then make our own rockets and launch them," James said.

One of the highlights of the NASA tour was being allowed in a neutral buoyancy lab, which was usually off limits.

"That was amazing," he said.

"Astronauts are dressed up, put in a pool and pressurised like they are in outer space. They float and practice missions under water.

"We also toured mission control, where staff were monitoring the international space station, saw the old mission control which launched Apollo 11 and went on the shuttle simulator, the closest thing to being in a real space shuttle."

James will do his Higher School Certificate next year and hopes to then do a science degree mastering in physics and chemistry.

His ultimate goal is to become an astronaut and work at NASA.