National Space Centre facts for kids
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National Space Centre, Leicester
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| Former name | National Space Science Centre |
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| Established | 30 June 2001 |
| Location | Belgrave, Leicester LE4 5NS |
| Type | Space (and aerospace) museum |
| Visitors | 330,000 (2016) |
| Architect | Nicholas Grimshaw |
| Public transit access | First Bus 54 |
The National Space Centre is a museum and educational resource covering the fields of space science and astronomy, along with a space research programme in partnership with the University of Leicester. It is located on the north side of the city in Belgrave, Leicester, England, next to the River Soar. Many of the exhibits, including upright rockets, are housed in a tower with minimal steel supports and a semi-transparent cladding of ETFE 'pillows' which has become one of Leicester's most recognisable landmarks. The National Space Centre is a registered charity with a board of trustees.
Contents
History
The building was designed by Nicholas Grimshaw, and it opened to the public on 30 June 2001. The tower is 42 m (138 ft) tall and claims to be the only place to house upright space rockets indoors.
University of Leicester
The centre arose from a partnership between the University of Leicester's Space Research Centre and local government agencies.
The National Space Centre currently has post-doctoral science researchers based at the University of Leicester's Space Research Centre (SRC) and the University of Nottingham's Institute of Engineering Surveying and Space Geodesy (IESSG).
Main exhibits
The Centre has on display one of only three known Soyuz spacecraft in Western Europe (there is one in France at the Cité de l'espace and, in the United States, another Soyuz spacecraft is at the Smithsonian Institution as part of their Apollo-Soyuz Test Project display).
The centre has six main galleries of exhibits and visitor activities covering space flight, astronomy and cosmology. The attraction also includes a Digistar 3 dome cinema and planetarium, a gift shop and a restaurant. The restaurant is situated beneath the two nozzles of the Blue Streak and PGM-17 Thor rockets.
Facilities
Digital visualisation
The Centre's own digital visualisation team, NSC Creative, make all the "fulldome" planetarium shows shown at the Centre. By 2011, NSC Creative fulldome shows are playing in over 220 planetaria in 27 countries worldwide. These productions include the official International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009) planetarium show "We are Astronomers" which was funded by the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).
Near Earth objects
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The failed Beagle 2 Mars spacecraft was controlled from the centre's Landing Operations Control Centre. UK Government's official Near-Earth object (NEO) Information Centre is also based at the centre.
Events
- Apollo program astronaut Buzz Aldrin visited the Space Centre in June 2005.
- The first Star Wars Day was held on 30 July 2005. Due to the popularity of this event, Star Wars weekend has been held annually, as of 2015.
- The centre hosted a celebration of 50 years of Doctor Who in November 2013.
- A Sci-Fi Weekend on the weekend beginning 17 June 2006 included a live-action experience similar to Alien War.
- On 19 July 2006 NASA astronaut Brian Duffy visited and told people about his trip to space.
- More recently the National Space Centre hosted a UK tour by the NASA STS-121 crew, including UK born astronaut Piers Sellers. The crew spoke to MPs, industry leaders and school children about the UK Space Industry.
In 2007, the National Space Centre celebrated 50 Years in Space: the anniversary of the first satellite, Sputnik.
Images for kids
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Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II being shown around the National Space Centre by former astronaut Helen Sharman.
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A map of the National Space Centre showing the main galleries and layout of the building. (As of June 2022)
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The Welcome Hall of the National Space Centre showing the Soyuz 7K-OK Spacecraft.
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An accurate Sputnik mock up whose manufacture was overseen by creator Sergei Korolev, displayed at the National Space Centre
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Russian Space Toilet, currently on display at the National Space Centre
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Matt Damon's EVA Spacesuit from the Ridley Scott Film, 'The Martian'
