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The National Space Centre is one of the United Kingdom's leading visitor attractions devoted to space science and astronomy. It is located in the city of Leicester, England, next to the River Soar. The building was designed by Nicholas Grimshaw, and it opened to the public on 30 June 2001.
The centre arose from a partnership between the University of Leicester's Space Research Centre and local government agencies. The total construction cost was £52m, £26m of which came from a Millennium Commission grant, and the rest from private sector sponsors. It is run as an educational charity, and offers science workshops for school children of all ages.
The Beagle 2 Mars spacecraft was controlled from the centre's Landing Operations Control Centre. The Centre has on display the only known Soyuz spacecraft in Western Europe (there is one at the Smithsonian Institution as part of their Apollo-Soyuz Test Project display).
It is closed on Mondays, except for Mondays which are bank holidays or in school holidays.
The award winning National Space Centre is the UK's largest attraction dedicated to space. From the minute you catch sight of the Space Centre's futuristic Rocket Tower, you 'll be treated to hours of breathtaking discovery and interactive fun.
Human Spaceflight: Lunar Base 2025 is the new fantastic experience at the National Space Centre. Become an astronaut and join the crew of our futuristic lunar base to complete your training. Interactive exhibits test your mental and physical ability to survive in deep space. Blast off on a stunning 3D SIM journey to the ice moon Europa.
The National Space Centre is the brain child of the University of Leicester which has Space science expertise of world renown. The University, Leicester City Council and Chamber of Commerce submitted a bid to the Millennium Commission for funds. The Millennium Commission agreed to support the project as its Landmark Millennium Project for the East Midlands.
Address:
National Space Centre
Exploration Drive
Post Code: LE4 5NS
Telephone: 0116 261 0261
Email: info@spacecentre.co.uk
Map of the Area
Related Links
 Leicester City Council
Leicester City Museums
Leicester Through Lens
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