UK's biggest ever space celebration to take place on 15 December

Space researchers from across the country will descend on South Kensington to celebrate the launch of British astronaut Tim Peake on Tuesday.

The main event in the evening, taking place at the Science Museum, will include a live link-up with Peake shortly after the Principia mission has docked with the International Space Station (ISS).

Peake will become the second British astronaut, following in the footsteps of Helen Sharman, who now works in Imperial’s Department of Chemistry.

British European Space Agency Astronaut Tim Peake in the Science Museum’s Cosmonauts exhibition (Credit: Science Museum)

The collaborative event sees the UK Space Agency teaming up with some of Britain’s most renowned cultural and academic institutions to host this free day and evening of celebratory events on Exhibition Road in South Kensington, home of science, arts and inspiration.

There are 12 exhibits led by Imperial at the special Lates event in the evening, starting from 18:00, including a debate about manned versus unmanned space exploration and a discussion between Sharman and Imperial Aeronautic Engineering alumnus Dr Andreas Mogensen (MEng Aeronautics, 1999), who spent eight days in space in September this year, about the similarities and differences of space travel in the quarter of a century between their missions.

Elsewhere, cosmonaut Alexei Leonov, the first human to walk in space, looks back on his pioneering moment in space travel 50 years ago. 

Visitors will also be able to take part in workshops and talks, see real space artefacts and meet other space experts in events organised by the Imperial’s neighbours from the Science Museum, the Natural History Museum and the Royal College of Music. Activities take place throughout the day along Exhibition Road at the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum.

The BBC Stargazing Live team, hosted by Dara Ó Briain and Professor Brian Cox, will broadcast live on BBC One from the Science Museum for a special daytime programme to mark the launch. A second hour-long evening programme will broadcast on BBC Two, featuring Tim Peake’s arrival at the ISS. 

Follow the hashtag #Principia for updates throughout the day.

Adapted from a press release by Discover South Kensington.