42-466: The Sir Frank Whittle Studio School was a 14–19 Studio School , part of The Lutterworth Academies Trust. It was situated alongside Lutterworth College in the rural market town of Lutterworth , South Leicestershire . The school specialised in engineering, business and sport. It also worked alongside employers to provide students with external experiential learning. The school closed in July 2019 because of
84-463: A Russian space toilet, constructed by NPP Zvezda. The appearance and size are the same as the type of toilet used on the Russian Mir space station. As a demonstration model it lacks the technological units needed for processing liquid and solid waste. An EVA Spacesuit used during the filming of Ridley Scott 's 2015 film, The Martian . Worn by Matt Damon and various stunt performers, it was used with
126-552: A collaboration between the National Space Centre, University of Leicester, Nottingham University and East Midlands Development Agency resulted in the creation of the Space Academy. The Space Academy collaborated with NASA’s Aerospace Educator Service Project and in 2010 led a session at the annual Space Exploration Educators Conference (SEEC) which draws in more than 600 teachers, space scientists and engineers from all over
168-455: A crab nebulae design. Construction began on the site in March 1999. The National Space Centre has six main galleries, a welcome hall, an area for space talks, a planetarium and a spaceflight simulator. It also has a café and various conference and teaching rooms. This entrance area contains a Soyuz spacecraft, and a set of spacesuits including Tim Peake's spacesuit, Buzz Aldrin's underwear and
210-554: A failure to fill places. There are plans to use the school buildings for a new special school. Plans were submitted to Harborough District Council in February 2014, with the intention to begin construction to be ready for the September 2014 cohort. The Kier Group were contracted for the project with a build programme beginning on 9 February 2015 and finishing with a final handover on 27 November 2015. Due to delays with planning permission,
252-570: A rigging system to simulate floating in space. The costumes used in the film were designed to be accurate reflections of the sort of spacesuits that might be used in a near-future Mars mission. Academy Award-winning costume designer Janty Yates worked with NASA and Scott to ensure that this Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA) spacesuit worked for the film, but also imagined the future of NASA spacesuit design. The National Space Centre provides education programmes that support parents and teachers to inspire children to learn about science. In 2004, working with
294-498: A space ride. On 26 January 2012, Sir Patrick Moore visited the National Space Centre to launch the planetarium, newly renamed in his honour. He also launched a new planetarium show, Tour of the Night Sky , that included a series of 'best-of' clips hosted by Sir Patrick himself. On 19 October 2004, NASA Astronaut, Michael Foale , visited the National Space Centre to launch the brand-new Rocket Tower glass lifts. Bernard Harris ,
336-644: A spacesuit from The Martian film. A gallery dedicated to space flight which includes a mock-up of the Columbus module from the International Space Station and a space toilet. This gallery covers the formation of the universe, how humans observe it and the search for alien life. The planets of the Solar System are the subject of this gallery which includes the TinyTarium, a planetarium especially for
378-616: A speech. On 3 July 2012, the Olympic Torch Relay visited Leicester. At the National Space Centre the torch was carried over the Rocket Tower by stuntman Nick Macomber AKA “Jet Pack Man” before being handed off to Kevin Davies who left the National Space Centre with an honour guard of Stormtroopers. Mission control for the Beagle 2 mission to Mars was based at the National Space Centre and
420-402: A studio school - all studio schools have to be stand alone schools with no direct transfer intake of pupils. Studio schools are designed to be small, with a maximum of 300 students, which enables them to foster a supportive, personalised learning environment with a strong focus on pastoral care. The schools forge close links with businesses and enterprises in their specialist industries who support
462-529: Is 1% of the weight of the equivalent amount of glass. The building was described by the Guardian as "One of the most distinctive and intriguing new buildings in Britain" The main building is a 7200m box built on a 14m grid steel frame, clad in a perforated metal skin that conceals the windows and louvres in the profiled steel cladding behind. The roof of the main building is overlaid with gravel in three colours to form
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#1732848652838504-464: Is 42 m (138 ft) tall and claims to be the only place to house upright space rockets indoors. The 7,360m scheme occupies a former storm water tank, which now forms the foundations of the building, reducing costs and maximising the reuse of the existing structure. The main rocket tower is clad in inflated pillows made of ETFE – the same material used on the Eden Project domes. This material
546-497: Is designed to give students practical skills in workplace environments as well as traditional academic and vocational courses of study. Like traditional schools, studio schools teach the National Curriculum and offer academic and vocational qualifications. However, studio schools also have links to employers and offer education related to work. Studio schools are a type of Free School , introduced in 2010. They are part of
588-510: Is too early an age for most children to receive such a specialised education. National Space Centre 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
630-468: The Academies Programme , and are funded by the taxpayer, non-selective, free to attend and not controlled by a local education authority . While this is also true of most other academies and free schools , studio schools are collectively distinctive in a number of ways. Studio schools are sponsored by existing schools, colleges, and community groups. However, existing schools cannot convert to become
672-466: The Challenger Center for Space Science Education , the National Space Centre launched e-Missions™ which included a mission to Europa where pupils have to save a crewed mission to Jupiter ’s moon that is in trouble and Operation Montserrat , where pupils take the role of a military response team tasked to evacuate a population in the face of a hurricane and a potential volcanic eruption. In 2008
714-459: 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. The initial idea of a space centre as a research facility but with public access, attached to
756-549: The University of Leicester , was first conceived in the 1980s – the idea of Professor Alan Wells, the Director of the University of Leicester's Space Research Centre, and Professor Ken Pounds of the university. The plan was not taken further due to lack of funds. The Space Centre as a museum was then put forward in 1995 – by Professor Alan Wells; Professor Alan Ponter, the University of Leicester's pro vice-chancellor; and Nigel Siesage,
798-445: The University of Leicester . Although this was his first physical visit, during his mission he linked live from space to the National Space Centre on two occasions, answering questions from school children and the media. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh visited the National Space Centre on 1 August 2002, as part of her Golden Jubilee national tour. The Queen gave
840-473: The National Space Academy in February 2011. It was set up to promote excellence in science and technology by training teachers, offering teaching resources, hosting career events and developing apprenticeship courses. As of 2022 a Space Engineering course provides A-levels in physics and mathematics, plus a BTEC Extended Diploma in engineering. The course is delivered by Loughborough College and
882-596: The National Space Centre in Leicester, it was set up as part of the UK Government's response to the report of the task force on Potentially Hazardous Near Earth Objects. It provided information to the public, media, educators and scientists on Near Earth Objects, the science behind them and the potential hazard they pose to life on Earth. Government funding for the NEO Information Centre was not renewed in 2010 and
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#1732848652838924-536: The National Space Centre to meet the visitors and to promote his book An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth . Apollo 7 astronaut Walt Cunningham visited the National Space Centre on 24 September 2015. Following his six-month mission on the International Space Station , Tim Peake visited the National Space Centre on Friday 14 October 2016 where he talked to local school children and visitors and received an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science from
966-514: The National Space Centre, including physics and mathematics delivery in the National Space Academy Science Lab in Leicester. The National Space Academy’s resources page includes lesson starter clips on astrobiology, space-themed videos in support of STEM lessons and videos and interactive experiences for home learning. The centre's own digital visualisation team, NSC Creative, make all the "fulldome" planetarium shows shown at
1008-494: The National Space Centre. The planetarium has 192 seats and six accessible spaces. Launched in 2022, this is a simulated low Earth orbit cruise on board a spacecraft. A selection of objects held in the National Space Centre's collections can be viewed online at the National Space Centre Collections Online . A piece of real Moon rock prised from a fractured boulder near the rim of Shorty Crater . This
1050-800: The United States, Canada, Europe and Japan. The Space Academy’s presentation on the ESA’s Rosetta mission was chosen to be streamed on the Internet by Space Center Houston . Subsequently, the National Space Centre on behalf of the UK Space Agency , the Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC), the UK Space Education Office (ESERO-UK), and the European Space Agency , launched
1092-598: The age range of their pupils. Some studio schools, which operate in areas with a three-tier school system , have intakes for students aged 13. The name 'Studio School' is derived from the concept of the Renaissance studio which existed in Europe from 1400 to 1700. Students at these studios were taught by an experienced master in the same place in which the master created and produced his work. Modern-day studio schools aim to give students skills required by employers and businesses in
1134-622: The build didn't start until 27 March 2015. The first intake of students were admitted in September 2014 and as a result of the building not being completed, a temporary building was erected on the Lutterworth College site to accommodate the students until construction on the school was complete. Construction was completed and the building in use from December 2015. The school received its first full set of results in August 2016. The school's results placed Sir Frank Whittle Studio School as one of
1176-399: The building was undertaken by C-Beck Group. Structural and services engineer was Arup, Quantity surveyor was Capita Property Services, project manager was Gardiner and Theobold +Management services and main contractor was Sir Robert McAlpine. Landscape architect was Land Use Consultants, Cladding consultant was Montressor Partnership and acoustics engineer was Sandy Brown Associates. The tower
1218-530: 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). The NEO Information Centre's launch was announced in January 2002 by the science minister, Lord Sainsbury. Based at
1260-529: The first African American to walk in space, visited the National Space Centre as part of the centre's Festival of Science and Culture over the weekend of the 12 and 13 March 2005. In June 2005 Apollo 11 astronaut and second man on the Moon Buzz Aldrin visited the National Space Centre. He spoke to children and toured the Lunar Base 2025 Experience. On 13 December 2013, Commander Chris Hadfield visited
1302-529: The highest performing secondary school in Leicestershire, ranking 6th out of all schools reporting results. The Progress 8 score of +0.15 is significantly above national average. As of 2019, the school's most recent inspection result was from 2017 and was Good. In 2018 the school was listed as underperforming. Studio School A studio school is a type of specialist secondary school in England that
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1344-496: The local area, in an environment which simulates genuine workplaces. As part of this, studio schools are open all year round and have a longer school day, typically 9am to 5pm. The Studio Schools programme as a whole is overseen by the Studio Schools Trust, who are responsible for helping in the establishment of new studio schools, and supporting existing schools to implement the model. Part of this work involves facilitating
1386-642: The project was the Challenger Learning Centre which opened at Leicester University in December 1999 and moved to the National Space Centre site a year later. It was the first such centre outside North America, where 42 similar centres existed. The centre was split in two, with one half replicating the inside of a spacecraft and the other, mission control. Originally it was to be called the National Space Science Centre, but in December 2000
1428-465: The schools through activities such as mentoring, work placements, and curriculum design and delivery. To further prepare students for the world of work, employability skills are embedded throughout all school activities using the CREATE employability skills framework. Like University Technical Colleges , studio schools are designed for students aged 14–19, whereas free schools and other academies can choose
1470-562: The sharing of best practice through networking sessions and training and CPD events. Businesses involved with the Studio Schools programme include National Space Centre , TalkTalk, Barclays , National Nuclear Laboratory , and National Trust . The establishment of studio schools has been criticised by some teaching unions , who claim they will cause further fragmentation state school provision. The age intake range of studio schools have also been criticised, with some unions arguing that 14
1512-423: The space race, and the two upright rockets it was specially designed to house, a PGM-17 Thor Able and a Blue Streak . The Rocket Tower also displays a piece of Moon rock. LIVE Space is an area where talks, live link-ups, news from space and science demonstrations are presented. A full dome planetarium which is used to project a variety of immersive shows many of which are created by NSC Creative who are based at
1554-532: The university's principal assistant registrar. Funding for the project came from the Millennium Commission , who provided 50% of the £52miliion capital cost, four major partners; Leicester City Council , the University of Leicester, East Midlands Development Agency and BT ; along with contributions from exhibition sponsors, Walkers , the Met Office , Omega, BNSC and Astrium . The first element of
1596-407: The very young visitor. A gallery with the planet Earth as its subject - how it is observed how it is changing, and the consequences of human actions. This is an area where selected artefacts from the National Space Centre's collection are exhibited. The gallery is updated regularly by the curator in order to display lesser known objects with unique histories. The rocket tower features stories from
1638-520: The word science was dropped from the name for marketing reasons. (The National Space Centre was often confused with the British National Space Centre , until they changed their name to the UK Space Agency ) On 30 June 2001, former NASA astronaut Jeffrey A. Hoffman opened the National Space Centre officially to the general public. In its first five months, the National Space Centre received 165,000 visitors, 25% ahead of its targets and
1680-447: Was collected by Gene Cernan in December 1972 during Apollo 17 , the last crewed mission to the Moon. The fragment weighs 120g and is encased in a protective atmosphere. A mock Sputnik , whose manufacture was overseen by creator Sergei Korolev , who demanded perfectionism; he once berated a junior technician with the words “This will be exhibited in museums” A demonstration example of
1722-542: Was named museum of the year by the Good Britain Guide, 2002. At opening, the centre was the base for more than 60 scientists and astronomers working on projects in a Space Science Research Unit (SSRU). In July 2005 it opened the Human Spaceflight Gallery, a lunar base set in the year 2025, dubbed Tranquillity Base. Visitors received a barcode and undertook a number of interactive tasks. It also included
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1764-571: Was the first NASA or ESA mission to be run in the full view of the public. Beagle 2's robotic arm, known as the PAW, was developed by a team led by the University of Leicester Space Research Group who also led on the technical design and the flight operations development. Nicholas Grimshaw , the architects of the Eden Project , won an architectural competition to design the National Space Centre in September 1996 beating four other architects. The fit out of
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