A night to remember at the Science Museum

Susan Charlesworth

22 Sep 2025 — 1 min read

Tim Peake's Soyuz capsule, with Apollo 10 in the background

Last week I had the joy of attending the special opening of the Science Museum Group’s brand-new space gallery.

My wonderful friend and former colleague Libby Jackson OBE FRAeS, now Head of Space at the Science Museum, opened the night with a brilliant speech. I’m so proud of her and the team who have brought this collection to life.

The gallery is breathtaking. Two flown spacecraft, Apollo 10 and Tim Peake’s Soyuz capsule, sit side by side. You can see Helen Sharman’s Sokol suit, along with countless other artefacts that tell the story of human spaceflight and the UK’s role in space.

And there’s so much more to discover. The BepiColombo structural thermal model, built by Airbus Defence and Space, feels imposing in its fresh setting, while a beautiful changing globe quietly sparkles nearby. Innovations such as Magdrive’s thrusters, Space Forge’s heatshield, Astroscale’s docking plate, and Spire’s nanosatellite highlight how UK companies are helping shape the future of space right now.

It also became a reunion of space friends, some of whose companies have artefacts in the gallery. One highlight for me was catching up with John Chinner, who I worked with during Tim Peake’s Principia mission ten years ago. We reminisced and set the world to rights on outreach, education, and how to enable innovation.

If you’re in London, I can’t recommend a visit enough. The new space gallery is a stunning reminder of what’s possible when science, creativity, and collaboration come together.

🚀 Plan your visit: Science Museum Space Gallery

Until next time,

Susan

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