History
Learn more about The National Space Centre’s history!
30th June 2001 : NSC open to visitors
The National Space Centre opens to visitors. American former NASA astronaut and currently a professor of aeronautics and astronautics at MIT, Jeff Hoffman cuts the ribbon to welcome 1489 visitors through the door.
16th March 2002 : Dr. Mamoru Mohri visit
The National Space Centre hosted Japanfest. The event welcomed Dr Mamoru Mohri to the UK, the first Japanese astronaut, he flew aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavor on the STS-47 (Spacelab-J) mission in 1992. The London Anglo-Japanese choir joined Dr Mohri at the event.
1st August 2002 : Helen Sharman & Queen visit
A very special day and the official opening for the National Space Centre. HRH Queen Elizabeth II, HRH Prince Phillip and UK Astronaut Helen Sharman, toured the Centre, prior to a very special lunch with invited guests.
January 2003 : NASA Space Shuttle STS-112 Crew Visit
UK born Astronaut Piers Sellers brought his Space Shuttle crew to visit the National Space Centre. They were joined by Sir Patrick Moore, who hosted several sessions with local schools to meet and ask questions of the Astronauts.
October 2004 : Micheal Foale visit
NASA Astronaut, Michael Foale, visited the National Space Centre to launch the brand new Rocket Tower glass lifts. Michael, who holds dual UK and US citizenship was the first Briton to perform a space walk. Michael had returned to Earth in April of 2004 on the last of his six missions into space.
June 2005 : Buzz Aldrin Visit
Buzz Aldrin is one of the most famous people on and off the planet. He visited the Centre to launch his new book, Reaching for the Moon. He joined children in the Challenger Learning Centre for a simulated space mission, signed copies of his book and answered visitor’s questions in the galleries.
December 2006 : Piers Sellars visits with crew of STS-121
Piers Sellers returned and brought another of his NASA Space Shuttle crews with him. This time he was joined by Astronauts Mark Kelly (with his wife, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords), Stephanie Wilson, Lisa Nowak and Flight Director Tomas Gonzalez-Torres. The Crew helped Leicester City Council break ground on the new DOCK development site and they even returned plans for the Science Park, that had been flown on the Space Shuttle mission.
01 October 2008 : Space Academy Launched (East Midlands)
Former Science and Innovation Minister Ian Pearson visited the National Space Centre to officially launch Space Academy. Space Academy is a not-for-profit organisation created with the dual goals of engaging young people with the sciences and maths using the inspirational context of space, and facilitating pathways into space sector careers by working with industry as well as education.
29th November 2008 : Guinness World Record EXTERMINATED!
The National Space Centre, general visitors, the members of the Project Dalek Forum and the Dalek Builders Guild managed to not only achieve the World Record, but EXTERMINATED the previous attempt, with 97 Daleks! Dalek operator David Hankinson and voice of the Daleks Nicholas Briggs, were on hand to adjudicate the attempt.
December 2011 : National Space Academy Launched
The National Space Academy becomes national, covering the whole of England, with the team of 7 growing to 22. The National Space Centre base extends to a second base office in Harwell, Oxfordshire.
7th January 2012 : ‘Sir Patrick Moore Planetarium’ officially opened
Patrick Moore was president of the British Astronomical Association, co-founder and president of the Society for Popular Astronomy (SPA), author of over 70 books on astronomy, and presenter of the world’s longest-running television series with the same original presenter, the BBC’s The Sky at Night. His significant impact on the world of Astronomy was celebrated with the renaming of the Space Theatre at the National Space Centre, to become the Sir Patrick Moore Planetarium.
3rd July 2012 : Olympic Torch event
I think we can safely say that the National Space Centre’s participation in the Olympic Torch Relay was out of this world. Jet Pack Man, Darth Vader, Rocket Science and over 200 excited Brownies sums up the send-off we gave Kevin Davies, the first Torchbearer for day 46.
2nd October 2012 : Don’t Tell the Bride
Yes, that was the National Space Centre on BBC3 hit TV show Don’t Tell the Bride.
“Fashion-conscious Holly Binnington gives full control of her wedding to her logical space cadet beau Anthony Richardson. Within months of meeting, these star-crossed lovers knew that their future together was written in the stars and Holly immediately planned her elegant and stylish Italian dream wedding. Unfortunately, Holly’s dream wedding had to be cancelled, so now Anthony has just three weeks and £12,000 to pull off mission improbable and give Holly a wedding that’s truly out of this world.”
Photography Credit: James Tracey Photography
8th November 2012 : Anu Ojha met Felix Baumgartner
Anu Ojha, Director of the National Space Academy at the National Space Centre meets Felix Baumgartner and Joe Kittinger. Felix had just completed the Red Bull Stratos, space diving project. He reached speeds of 1,357.64 km/h (843.6 mph, Mach 1.25) and broke the sound barrier.
16 December 2012 : Moon Rock 40th Anniversary
The National Space Centre celebrated a very special anniversary, the 40th birthday of our Moon Rock. In December 1972, Apollo 17 lifted off from the surface of the Moon and man has not returned. On board were 110.52 kg of soil and rocks from the lunar surface. Thanks to our friends at NASA, one piece of that rock made its way to Leicester and is now only one of only two pieces on display to the public in the UK.
2014 : ‘Best Told Story’ Award
In 2014 VisitEngland awarded 12 attractions nationwide the accolade “Best Told Story”. The National Space Centre was one of those to receive this award, which they retained in 2015. The accolades, introduced by VisitEngland for the first time in October 2014, recognise outstanding attractions going the extra mile to create an enjoyable and memorable experience for visitors.
June 2014 : Anu Ojha receives an OBE
Anu Ojha was invited to the Palace, where Prince William bestowed upon him an OBE for services to science education in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
September 2014 : The National Space Academy Expands (again!)
Thanks to funding from the Lloyds Register Foundation, the National Space Academy takes on Lead Educators in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, to become truly National!
13th December 2014 : Chris Hadfield Visit
Chris Hadfield is the Canadian born astronaut, now retired, who has made his way into space a total of three times. He is one of the most inspiring science communicators we have ever had the pleasure to meet and he joined visitors and school children for a day of inspiration in the Sir Patrick Moore Planetarium.
15th December 2015 : Tim Peake Launch Party
The National Space Centre and National Space Academy teams hosted a FREE party to watch the live coverage of UK born ESA Astronaut Tim Peake blast off for his six month mission on the International Space Station. A morning of talks, workshops, hands on activities was enjoyed by over 300 people, including live coverage from Baikonur Cosmodrome.
January 2015 : Out of this World Weddings Launched
Following the success of Don’t Tell the Bride, the National Space Centre received a huge number of requests for people to not only celebrate wedding receptions in the Rocket Tower and galleries, but also to tie the knot on site. Who were we to deny the happy couple a perfect venue!
26 & 27 February 2015 : Public Service Broadcasting Gig
Public Service Broadcasting is the corduroy-clad brainchild of London-based J. Willgoose, Esq. Who, along with drumming companion Wrigglesworth, is on a quest to inform, educate and entertain audiences around the globe. Their new album, The Race For Space, was launched at the National Space Centre.
11th March 2015 : Welcomed Our 3 Millionth Visitor
Julia Leake with children Maisie, 5 and Samuel, 7 Leake and Grandma Janet Freer bought a very lucky ticket, to become the 3 millionth visitors to the Centre. They were really good sports on the day, being thrust into the limelight, so to thank them we gave them a VIP Screening evening in the Sir Patrick Moore Planetarium, which they donated to the school to watch Paddington (with marmalade popcorn!)
29th June 2015 : Gemini TTV-2 Arrives
Removing the front of the building is a huge job, but when you have the opportunity to house a new important artefact, no job is too big. The Gemini TTV-2 Paraglider Capsule is the only Gemini craft currently on display outside of the USA.
29th September 2015 : Ronnie Walter Cunningham Visit
The National Space Centre and National Space Academy teams hosted a FREE party to watch the live coverage of UK born ESA Astronaut Tim Peake blast off for his six month mission on the International Space Station. A morning of talks, workshops, hands on activities was enjoyed by over 300 people, including live coverage from Baikonur Cosmodrome.
