London, UK – 20^th February 2019 – On Wednesday 20^th February Tim Peake’s, the UK’s first European Space Agency astronaut, famous Soyuz TMA-19M capsule will arrive at the Ulster Transport Museum, Belfast, the final stop on the spacecraft’s national tour.

Presented by Samsung and the Science Museum Group, The National Tour of Tim Peake’s Spacecraft includes the Soyuz TMA-19M capsule – complete with equipped interior and char marks on its outer body from its re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere – and is displayed along with its 25-metre diameter parachute and the Sokol KV-2 spacesuit Peake wore during his high-speed descent back to Earth. As Samsung UK’s flagship CSR programme, the aim of this partnership is to inspire millions of people across the UK by bringing to life the wonder of space travel, sparking a curiosity in life-long learning.

Accompanying the spacecraft is the unique Space Descent VR experience. With the help of Samsung Gear VR technology, Space Descent VR places visitors at the heart of Major Tim Peake’s historic 250-mile return voyage to Earth from the ISS and is voiced by the astronaut himself. Samsung and the Science Museum Group will also continue its unique education outreach programme for KS3/4 students with Samsung’s 360° immersive and interactive double decker ‘Space Descent VR experience’ bus going into schools and working with the Science Museum Group in the area to deliver Soyuz Rocket Shows, all geared to help students engage with space and the inspirational science and technologies behind space travel.

Tim Peake reliving his journey back to earth with the the unique Space Descent VR experience with the help of Samsung Gear VR technology

School children learning how to make rocket fuel on a Samsung Tablet aboard the Space Decent Bus

Linda Nolan, Marketing Director of Samsung Ireland said:

“We’re excited to be working with the Science Museum Group and the Ulster Transport Museum to help bring this piece of modern history to life by using technology such as Virtual Reality. Through this incredible experience we aim to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers and technologists. Samsung is passionate about inspiring future generations and this is why we’re particularly proud of our outreach work into more than 60 schools throughout the Tour. We look forward to welcoming students from local schools on board our Space Descent VR Experience Bus”

Director of the Science Museum Group, Sir Ian Blatchford, said: “It is rare to see the star objects in Britain’s great museum collections touring the length and breadth of the country. I am thrilled that so many thousands of people have had the opportunity to see this extraordinary artefact of recent space history on its tour to date. I look forward to seeing the Soyuz capsule on display at the Ulster Transport Museum, where it will give even more people the opportunity to be inspired by and learn more about Peake’s recent space mission.

Kathryn Thomson, Chief Executive of National Museums NI, said the exhibition, which is expected to attract thousands of visitors, is befitting of the Ulster Transport Museum.

“We’re delighted to work in partnership with the Science Museum Group and Samsung to bring the historic capsule to the Ulster Transport Museum for the final stop in what has been, and continues to be, a stimulating and engaging national touring exhibition.  The arrival of Tim Peake’s spacecraft opens a new chapter for the story of transportation chronicled at the museum.”

She added “The exhibition will enhance our visitors’ experience by complementing the extensive collection of transport exhibits we have on display. The craft itself represents the very best in human ingenuity and feats of engineering, a historical narrative which is charted throughout the Ulster Transport Museum through a rich collection which showcases the innovation and feats of engineering of people from this part of the world.”

Samsung and the Science Museum Group are also running a nationwide prize draw between the 19^th February and the 5^th March for any primary or secondary schools enter for a chance to win a visit from the Space Decent Bus^[[1]. To find out more information on the National Tour of Tim Peake’s Spacecraft and the price draw check out  https://www.samsung.com/uk/spacedescent/

[1] To enter you must be a UK Residents aged 18+

Cardiff, UK – 15 November 2018 – On Thursday 15^th November the spacecraft which transported Tim Peake, the UK’s first European Space Agency astronaut, to and from the International Space Station, lands at National Museum Cardiff.

As part of a national tour presented by Samsung and the Science Museum Group the Soyuz TMA-19M capsule, complete with equipped interior and char marks on its outer body from its re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere, will be displayed along with its 25m diameter parachute. As Samsung UK’s flagship CSR programme, the aim of this partnership is to inspire millions of people across the UK by bringing to life the wonder of space travel, sparking a curiosity in life-long learning.

The display of the iconic craft will be accompanied by Space Descent VR, a unique virtual reality adventure using Samsung Gear VR technology. Narrated by Tim Peake himself, Space Descent VR recreates the experience of making the incredible 250-mile journey back down to Earth from the International Space Station inside a Soyuz capsule.

A programme of activities supported by Samsung and the Science Museum Group dedicated to Tim Peake’s Principia mission, will run throughout the exhibition with a special space themed family fun day on 17^th November and a star themed Christmas event on 15^th & 16^th December.

The tour will be accompanied by a joint Samsung and Science Museum Group outreach programme to engage young people in schools with potential futures in STEM subjects. Over the next coming months’ schools and city locations in the Greater Cardiff area will be visited by the ‘Space Descent with Tim Peake VR experience tour bus’, designed to look like the ISS. Students will undergo a space training programme and have the opportunity to experience Space Descent VR, inspiring a new generation of budding space explorers. This is part of a greater outreach programme, supported by Samsung, which also includes a school visit to the National Museum Cardiff to see the Soyuz capsule as well as visit from the Science Museum Group’s Learning Team who deliver the interactive ‘Rocket Show’

Tim Peake aboard the Space Descent VR Experience Tour Bus

Kate Beaumont, Director of Product, Services & Commercial Strategy IM Division, Samsung Electronics UK & Ireland, said: “Samsung believes technology has the power to spark curiosity and truly enable life-long learning, and we know that space travel captures the nation’s imagination. As a business, we thrive on innovation and change and; for that we need increasingly diverse talent. We hope by creating experiences such as Space Descent using our Gear VR technology and bringing it closer to schools and communities across the UK, we can inspire more young people to engage with vital STEM subjects.”

David Anderson, Director General of Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales said: “We are very excited about bringing the Soyuz TMA-19M capsule to Cardiff and Wales. The Soyuz capsule represents one of history’s most incredible technological feats, and this is an unmissable opportunity for visitors young and old to see the craft that took Tim Peake all the way to the Space Station and back.”

Director of the Science Museum Group, Ian Blatchford said: “It is rare to see the star objects in Britain’s great museum collections touring the length and breadth of the country. I am so pleased with the success of the Soyuz tour to date and I am thrilled that people will have the opportunity to see this extraordinary artefact of recent space history on display at the National Museum Cardiff.”

Commenting on the acquisition, ESA astronaut Tim Peake said: “You do become very attached to your spacecraft because it definitely does save your life. I’m absolutely delighted that my Soyuz spacecraft, the TMA-19M, is going to be returning here to the UK and may serve, hopefully, as inspiration for our next generation of scientists and engineers.”

For more info on the Soyuz National Tour, visit http://samsung.com/uk/spacedescent/

Tim Peake reliving his descent back to space with the Samsung Gear VR headset

LONDON, England – 9^th August, 2018 – New research from Samsung saw school children in the UK asked what their new world would be like if the human race started afresh on a different planet, and surprisingly found that they would put mum and dad in charge (22 per cent) if given the choice, followed by the Obamas (14 per cent) and England manager Gareth Southgate (10 per cent).

The research, which quizzed 1,000 UK schoolchildren, was carried out by Samsung as part of its partnership with the Science Museum Group, to present the National Tour of Tim Peake’s spacecraft (Soyuz TMA-19M). The public will also be able to travel to space and back – just as Tim has – by experiencing Space Descent VR in the newly upgraded space travel VR lounge supported by Samsung.

Who would be their ideal leaders?

If mum and dad weren’t keen on the top job it seems that kids would most like to rule themselves, with one in five (19 per cent) opting for true democracy on their new planet, with decisions made by ‘everyone’.

Other than democracy and the state of mum and dad, the Obamas (14 per cent) took the top spot for celebrities to rule the world, but it seems like England’s success in the World Cup deems them successful on our new planet, with England manager Gareth Southgate (10 per cent) coming in at second, and even Harry Kane making an appearance on the list (3 per cent). The Queen and Donald Trump (6 per cent) came out in joint fifth place, followed by Emma Watson (4 per cent). Unlike her hit single, Beyoncé would not be ruling the world with only 2 per cent choosing her as leader, and less than 1 per cent think their headteacher has the right credentials to rule.

Kid’s favourite Nep-tune

He said he was top five, and then two, but according to the majority of 11-16 year olds, Drake is actually the number one candidate to be the music of the new nation. The Canadian musician was the most popular singer (22 per cent), over Arianna Grande (13 per cent) who was closely followed by George Ezra (12 per cent).

Baby boomers can rejoice, as The Beatles tied with 5 Seconds of Summer (9 per cent), however classical music will be one for the history books as a mere 3 per cent would take Mozart’s works.

The green planet

It’s no surprise that out of the eco-conscious generation, a quarter (23 per cent) will ban plastic bottles from their new home. Renewable or green energy would be powering the planet, with solar energy being the prime choice (66 per cent), followed by wind (11 per cent) and geothermal energy (6 per cent). In another demonstration of not wanting to repeat the mistakes we have made here on earth only 5 per cent would be in favour of using nuclear power, while just one per cent picked coal or oil.

School’s out

Unfortunately, it wasn’t all about saving their new world and a third say homework would no longer exist (32 per cent) and exams would become a thing of the past for 28 per cent. Luckily, only 8 per cent would leave behind bed time so our new planet would have the energy to ensure it continues to be a place that’s out of this world.

Sam Grant, Chief Marketing Officer, Samsung Electronics UK & Ireland, said “Samsung knows that space travel captures children’s imaginations and we have a mission to spark that curiosity by creating incredible and accessible experiences through technology, helping you to travel beyond your confines and participate in experiences and worlds, you never thought possible.”

The spacecraft which transported Tim Peake, the UK’s first European Space Agency astronaut, to and from the International Space Station, will land at Peterborough Cathedral on Saturday 11^th August and remain on show until Monday 5^th November 2018.

Data to questions:

Who would you ask to run your new planet?

22% -Mum and dad

19% – Everyone

14% – The Obamas

10% – Gareth Southgate

6% – The Queen – Donald Trump

4% – Emma Watson

3% – Harry Kane

2% Kim Kardashian – Theresa May –  Beyonce

1% – Your headteacher

Whose music would you take with you to start your new colony?

22% – Drake

13% – Ariana Grande

12% – George Ezra

9% – 5 Seconds of Summer & The Beatles

6% – Justin Bieber

5% – Cardi B

4% – Elvis Presley

3% – Mozart

2% – Beethoven

How would you power your new colony?

66% – solar energy

11% – wind energy

6% – geothermal energy – wave energy

5% – nuclear

3% – tidal

2% – gas

1% – oil – coal

What would you leave behind?

60% – war

59% – disease

34% – politicians

32% – homework

28% – exams

27% – the Kardashians

23% – plastic bottles

18% – my headteacher – fossil fuels

8% – bedtime

Samsung and the Science Museum Group are presenting partners of the National Tour of the Soyuz TMA-19M capsule, which safely returned the European Space Agency’s first British astronaut – Tim Peake – back to earth after six incredible months aboard the International Space Station. As Samsung UK’s flagship CSR programme, the aim of this partnership is to inspire millions of people across the UK by bringing to life the wonder of space travel, sparking a curiosity in life-long learning.

Proceedings were opened by British astronaut Tim Peake

As the Soyuz capsule makes its way up and down the country, Samsung will also transport visitors to space through a new immersive VR lounge, where they will be able to experience Tim Peake’s 400km journey through space thanks to a specially curated virtual reality experience: Space Descent VR, using Gear VR headsets. To date, 30,000 people across the UK have followed in the gravity-free footsteps of Tim Peake thanks to the ground-breaking Space Descent VR experience, during it’s time at the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford, Locomotion in Shildon, the National Railway Museum in York, and the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester.

Helping with the unveiling were pupils from Dunipace primary school in Falkirk, who were also given the opportunity to put their space-based questions to the famous astronaut.

Students from Dunipace primary school, Falkirk, ask Tim Peake about his time in space

Samsung is also working closely with the Science Museum Group on a national schools outreach programme, aimed at engaging young people in STEM subjects. Over the coming six weeks, schools in the Greater Manchester area will be visited by the ‘Space Descent with Tim Peake VR experience tour bus’, designed to look like the ISS. Students will undergo a space training programme and have the opportunity to experience Space Descent VR, inspiring a new generation of burgeoning space explorers.

Science Museum Group Director Ian Blatchford, Samsung Electronics UK & Ireland Senior CSR Manager Evelyn Nicola, British astronaut Tim Peake and Director of National Museums Scotland Dr Gordon Rintoul

Dr Gordon Rintoul, Director of National Museums Scotland said: “We were delighted to welcome Tim Peake to the National Museum of Scotland to unveil his spacecraft. Space travel is a captivating subject and I know thousands of our visitors will flock to the Museum in the coming months to see this fascinating capsule close up.”

Sam Grant, Chief Marketing Officer at Samsung Electronics UK and Ireland, said: “We are proud to partner with the Science Museum Group as we share a strong belief that instilling a sense of curiosity lies at the heart of life-long learning. We have had incredible feedback from teachers and pupils who have taken part on the tour and have found the use of our technology invaluable in bringing to life the Space Descent VR experience. With the help of the Tim Peake Space Descent VR Experience Tour Bus, we will be taking this unique training programme across the UK visiting schools to engage young people in STEM subjects.  We think it is crucial to spark the imagination of children with the use of the latest technology. We want to ensure we inspire the future leaders in STEM careers from a young age.”

Science Museum Group Director Ian Blatchford said: “Tim Peake’s Principia mission truly captured the public imagination. I’m delighted that we are building on that fascination with space by touring his spacecraft and spacesuit all over the country. I’m particularly pleased that this tour is reaching every part of the United Kingdom and I hope visitors to the National Museum of Scotland will be as enraptured by getting up close with this incredible piece of recent space history as visitors to the Science Museum Group museums visited by the tour so far.”

British Astronaut Tim Peake thanked Dunipace primary school on Twitter

Also on display in Edinburgh is the Sokol KV-2 emergency suit, worn by Tim Peake on his Principia Mission, which has been acquired for the Science Museum Group Collection.

Tim Peake alongside his Sokol KV-2 space suit

Samsung and the Science Museum Group are presenting partners of the National Tour of the Soyuz TMA-19M capsule, which safely returned the European Space Agency’s first British astronaut – Tim Peake – back to earth after six incredible months aboard the International Space Station. As Samsung UK’s flagship CSR programme, the aim of this partnership is to inspire millions of people across the UK by bringing to life the wonder of space travel, sparking a curiosity in life-long learning. To date, the tour has visited Bradford, Shildon, York and Manchester, attracting almost 200,000 visitors, and over the coming months can be experienced at the following locations:

Edinburgh – National Museum of Scotland
17th May – 4th August 2018

Peterborough – Peterborough Cathedral
11th August – 5th November 2018

Cardiff – National Museum Cardiff
November 2018 – January 2019*

Belfast – Ulster Museum
February 2019 – May 2019**Exact dates TBC

For more info on the Soyuz National Tour, visit http://samsung.com/uk/spacedescent/

Proceedings were opened by Sally MacDonald, Director of the Museum of Science and Industry

Samsung and the Science Museum Group are presenting partners of the National Tour of the Soyuz TMA-19M capsule, which safely returned the European Space Agency’s first British astronaut – Tim Peake – back to earth after six incredible months aboard the International Space Station. As Samsung UK’s flagship CSR programme, the aim of this partnership is to inspire millions of people across the UK by bringing to life the wonder of space travel, sparking a curiosity in life-long learning. To date the tour has attracted almost 200,000 visitors to see the spacecraft alone.

As the Soyuz capsule makes its way up and down the country, Samsung will also transport visitors to space through a new immersive VR lounge, where they will be able to experience Tim Peake’s 400km journey through space thanks to a specially curated virtual reality experience: Space Descent VR, using Gear VR headsets. To date, almost 17,000 people across the UK have followed in the gravity-free footsteps of Tim Peake thanks to the ground-breaking Space Descent VR experience, during it’s time at the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford, Locomotion in Shildon and the National Railway Museum in York.

SEUK CMO Sam Grant, MSI Director Sally MacDonald and Astrophysicist and TV presenter Danielle George MBE experience Space Descent VR in the bespoke Samsung lounge

Samsung is also working closely with the Science Museum Group on a national schools outreach programme, aimed at engaging young people in STEM subjects. Over the coming six weeks, schools in the Greater Manchester area will be visited by the ‘Space Descent with Tim Peake VR experience tour bus’, designed to look like the ISS. Students will undergo a space training programme and have the opportunity to experience Space Descent VR, inspiring a new generation of burgeoning space explorers.

Dame Mary Archer, Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Science Museum Group, interacts with the Samsung spaceman suit up experience on-board the tour bus

The National Tour begins a two-month stay at the Museum of Science and Industry following an extremely successful spell at the National Railway Museum in York, where there were 126,509 total visitors, 31% up on the same period  last year, and 6,203 visitors took part in the Space Descent VR, the highest figures for a venue to date.
Sam Grant, Chief Marketing Officer at Samsung Electronics UK and Ireland, said: “It’s incredible that we’ve brought the Soyuz capsule to its fourth UK city now. There’s clearly an appetite for using technology in ways that transform how we learn, given that so many people are engaging with our Space Descent VR experience. This truly is an unforgettable experience for museum visitors, one that we hope sparks curiosity beyond the day-to-day.”

The Space Descent VR with Tim Peake experience tour bus

Astrophysicist, TV presenter and University of Manchester Professor Danielle George MBE, Samsung’s spokesperson for the Manchester leg of the tour, said: “I’m thrilled to be part of such an exciting exhibition. It’s crucial that children have access to these kinds of resources – it expands their education and interest in STEM subjects, and is key to defining the career choices that children go on to make. Samsung and the Science Museum Group will no doubt continue to inspire young people as they take the Soyuz spacecraft around the nation.”

Danielle George MBE tweeted her excitement after experiencing Space Descent VR with Tim Peake

At the launch event, Science Museum Group Director Ian Blatchford announced Peterborough Cathedral as the winner of a national competition to host British astronaut Tim Peake’s spacecraft. Peterborough Cathedral was selected from a five-strong shortlist by an expert panel and hopes to attract tens of thousands of visitors during the spacecraft’s visit. It will host its stage of the national tour between August and November 2018, coinciding with its 900th anniversary celebrations this year.

The announcement video can be viewed here.

Ian Blatchford said: “It is rare to see the star objects in Britain’s great museum collections touring the length and breadth of the country. It is even rarer to see a spacecraft in a cathedral. I am extremely pleased that thousands of people from all around the diocese of Peterborough will have the chance to see this extraordinary artefact of recent space history on their doorstep, and I cannot wait to see the Soyuz take the cathedral’s 900th birthday celebrations out of this world when it arrives in August.”

British Astronaut Tim Peake congratulated Peterborough Cathedral

Also unveiled in Manchester was the Sokul KV-2 emergency suit, worn by Tim Peake on his Principia Mission, which has been acquired for the Science Museum Group Collection. The Sokul suit joins the tour alongside the Soyuz capsule, and is a celebration of Manchester’s integral role in the development of space suit design in the last half-century.

Tim Peake’s Sokol KV-2 space suit will be joining the Soyuz National Tour from Manchester onwards

Sally MacDonald, Director of the Museum of Science and Industry, said: “I am delighted that Tim Peake’s Sokol space suit is to go on display here in Manchester in its first public appearance following its acquisition by the Science Museum Group, alongside the awe-inspiring Soyuz space capsule. Manchester has a long history of technical innovation, and our unsung hero inventors played a significant role in putting a man on the moon, so I feel it is particularly fitting that we are the first venue for the suit’s tour.”

The Soyuz TMA-19M spacecraft and Sokul spacesuit will be on-site at Manchester’s Museum of Space and Industry until 13^th May 2018.

For more info about the Soyuz National Tour, visit the webpage.

To view the trailer for Space Descent VR with Tim Peake, visit the SEUK CSR VR platform.

 7th March 2018 – Almost 17,000 people across the UK have followed in the gravity-free footsteps of Major Tim Peake thanks to the ground-breaking Space Descent VR experience. Samsung provided its technology and created a fully immersive VR lounge that transports visitors into space before the VR experience has even begun. The VR technology allows users to take the magnificent 400km descent from the International Space Station (ISS) to Earth, aboard the legendary Soyuz TMA-19M module.

To date, two thirds of the 549 intrepid souls to have travelled beyond the Earth’s atmosphere are American, but Samsung and the Science Museum Group continue their task to make space travel in the UK accessible to all through Tim Peake’s spacecraft national tour.

Tim Peake’s iconic Soyuz capsule is on a two-year UK tour that is presented by Samsung & the Science Museum Group, which has to date attracted almost 200,000 visitors to see the spacecraft alone, experiencing space travel for themselves.

Having previously landed in Bradford, Shildon and York, the tour continues from Saturday 10th March at Manchester’s Museum of Science and Industry. As part of this ‘first of its kind’ tour, Samsung is also working closely with the Science Museum Group on a national schools outreach programme, aimed at engaging young people in STEM subjects. Over the coming six weeks, surrounding Manchester schools will be visited by the Space Descent with Tim Peake VR experience tour bus, designed to look like the ISS. Students will undergo a space training programme and have the opportunity to experience Space Descent VR, inspiring a new generation of burgeoning space explorers.

Sam Grant, Chief Marketing Officer at Samsung Electronics UK and Ireland, says, “It’s incredible that we’ve brought the Soyuz capsule to its fourth UK city now. There’s clearly an appetite for using technology in ways that transform how we learn, given that so many people are engaging with our Space Descent VR experience. This truly is an unforgettable experience for museum visitors, one that we hope sparks curiosity beyond the day-to-day.”

Astrophysicist and TV presenter Danielle George MBE supports the Manchester leg of the campaign. “I’m thrilled to be part of such an exciting exhibition. It’s crucial that children have access to these kinds of resources – it expands their education and interest in STEM subjects, and is key to defining the career choices that children go on to make. Samsung and the Science Museum Group will no doubt continue to inspire young people as they take the Soyuz spacecraft around the nation.”

The Soyuz TMA-19M spacecraft will be on-site at Manchester’s Museum of Space and Industry until 13 May 2018.

Samsung and the Science Museum Group are presenting partners of the National Tour of the Soyuz TMA-19M capsule, which safely returned the European Space Agency’s first British astronaut – Tim Peake – back to earth after six incredible months aboard the International Space Station. The aim of this partnership is to inspire millions of people across the UK by bringing to life the wonder of space travel, sparking a curiosity in life-long learning.

National Railway Museum Director Judith McNicol, the UK Space Agency’s Human Spaceflight Manager Libby Jackson, and Samsung Electronics UK & Ireland Brand & Communications Director James Eadie

As the Soyuz capsule makes its way up and down the country, Samsung will transport visitors to space through a new immersive VR lounge, where they can experience Tim Peake’s 400km journey through space though a specially curated virtual reality experience: Space Descent VR, using Gear VR headsets.

A student from the Mount View School in York experiences Space Descent VR with Tim Peake

Following a successful spell at Locomotion in Shildon, where almost 47,000 people saw the exhibition, The National Tour has just begun a two-month stay at the National Railway Museum in York.

At the National Railway Museum launch, James Eadie, Brand & Communications Director of Samsung Electronics UK and Ireland, said: “We are proud to partner with the Science Museum Group as we share a strong belief that instilling a sense of curiosity lies at the heart of life-long learning.  Space and space travel is clearly a subject that inspires curiosity from a young age, and with a sense of wonder that often doesn’t leave us. We are also working with the Science Museum Group in their education outreach programme. With the help of the Tim Peake Space Descent VR Experience Tour Bus, over the next two years a unique training programme will be visiting schools across the UK to engage young people in STEM subjects.”

HM Government Envoy for the Year of Engineering Stephen Metcalfe MP discusses the Year of Engineering and the significance of the Soyuz capsule going on a national tour

HM Government Envoy for the Year of Engineering Stephen Metcalfe MP said: “I have no doubt that Tim Peake’s Soyuz Spacecraft will spark the imaginations of many budding engineers, and I’m delighted to see one of our key Year of Engineering partners – the Science Museum Group – working with Samsung to bring this opportunity to young people across the country.”

HM Government Envoy for the Year of Engineering Stephen Metcalfe MP tweeted to announce the unveiling of the Soyuz capsule in York, along with a photo from inside the Samsung Spaceman Suit

National Railway Museum Director Judith McNicol announced the shortlist in a competition to find a venue to host Tim Peake’s spacecraft. The shortlist of five public venues, which includes The Forum, Norwich; Millennium Point, Birmingham; Peterborough Cathedral; Theatre Royal Plymouth’s Learning and Production Centre, TR2; and Worcester Cathedral,  will be deliberated by an expert panel before the winner is announced at the unveiling of the spacecraft at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester on 9^th March.

The expert panel will be chaired by Science Museum Group Director Ian Blatchford and includes the UK Space Agency’s Human Spaceflight Manager Libby Jackson, Samsung Electronics UK’s Brand & Communications Director James Eadie and Magali Vaissiere, Director of the European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications.

The European Space Agency’s first British astronaut, Tim Peake, tweeted his excitement at the announcement of the mystery venue competition shortlist

Students from the Mount View School in York attended the launch, to discover the Soyuz capsule, experience Space Descent VR and take selfies in the Samsung Spaceman Suit.

A student from the Mount View School in York has photos taken inside the Samsung Spaceman Suit

For more information about the Soyuz National Tour, visit the webpage here

Samsung Electronics introduces the 360 Round, a new camera for developing and streaming high-quality 3D content for specialists and enthusiasts who demand a superior virtual reality (VR) experience. Announced at the Samsung Developer Conference (SDC 2017), the Samsung 360 Round uses 17 lenses—eight stereo pairs positioned horizontally and one single lens positioned vertically—to livestream 4K 3D video and spatial audio, and create engaging 3D images with depth.

The 360 Round’s durable, compact design features IP65¹ water and dust resistance for use in everyday weather conditions and a fanless design to reduce weight and eliminate background noise. With additional features, including PC software for controlling and stitching and expandable external storage², the 360 Round provides long lasting shooting for any sized job.

The growth of 360 content platforms, such as Samsung VR, Facebook and YouTube, as well as the spread of 360 videos through major media, has increased the need for high-quality 360 videos among VR professionals and enthusiasts. The 360 Round is the first product to meet these needs by combining high-quality, 360-degree imagery with advanced 3D depth at a reasonable price compared to other professional 360 cameras.

“The Samsung 360 Round is a testament to our leadership in the VR market. We have developed a product that contains innovative VR features, allowing video producers and broadcast professionals to easily produce high quality 3D content,” said Suk-Jea Hahn, Executive Vice President of Samsung Electronics’ Global Mobile B2B Team. “The combination of livestreaming capabilities, IP65 water and dust resistance and 17 lenses makes this camera ideal for a broad range of use cases our customers want—from livestreaming major events to filming at training facilities across various industries.”

The Samsung 360 Round combines high-quality images with a durable design and a content management software solution that allows VR directors to transform virtual reality through a complete set of advanced features.

High-Quality 360 Content

The 360 Round offers high-quality 3D images with a 4K camera, thanks to 17 paired lenses that capture a 360-degree view for a full 3D experience. In addition, the 360 Round enables live streaming with little-to-no latency³ and broadcasts easier than ever, with one-step stitching and control software provided by Samsung.

Durability

The Samsung 360 Round uses a uni-body chassis designed to reduce heat, removing the need for a cooling fan and minimizing size and weight. The compact design helps eliminate excess noise and reduce power consumption for hours of continuous shooting. Additionally, the 360 Round is IP65¹ dust and water resistant, making it an ideal choice for capturing content in the most challenging environments. With expandable connectors and ports, the 360 Round is designed to easily and quickly connect to additional equipment, such as an external mic, and storage for saving large files.

The Samsung 360 Round will be available in October in the United States before expanding to other markets over time. For more information please visit http://www.samsungmobilepress.com or www.samsung.com/galaxy.

360 Round Product Specification

¹When using this feature, please put AC adaptor in a waterproof pack

²Sold separately

³Depending on network connections

*All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation.

Samsung will transport visitors to space through a new immersive VR lounge, where they will be able to experience Tim Peake’s 400km journey through space from the ISS hack to earth by a specially curated virtual reality experience: Space Descent VR.

The first stop on the national tour saw Tim Peake’s Spacecraft and Space Descent VR land in Bradford at the National Science and Media Museum.

School Children taking part in a Q & A with Tim Peake

School children in the Samsung VR lounge

Tim Peake and Russell Taylor, Chief Marketing Office at Samsung, in the VR lounge

Tim Peake welcoming guests and introducing the Soyuz capsule

Tim Peake welcoming guests and introducing the Soyuz capsule

Ian Blatchford, Director of the Science Museum Group, Tim Peak, Russell Taylor and Jo Quinton-Tulloch, Director of the National Science and Media Museum

Tim Peake with the Soyuz TMA-19M capsule

Photos accredited to © Science Museum Group / Jody Hartley

London UK – June 13, 2017 – Samsung Electronics today announced partnerships with BuzzFeed and NowThis, giving consumers access to new and immersive experiences made possible by Samsung’s Gear 360. Since early June, BuzzFeed and NowThis have each been creating and publishing engaging videos and photos across social media platforms including Facebook and YouTube. These partnerships will result in more than 140 pieces of content and reach over 300 million consumers.

To inspire a new culture of creating and consuming immersive content, BuzzFeed and NowThis will offer viewers easily snackable content: from simple how-to’s to the front lines of live 360-degree moments and breaking news worldwide. BuzzFeed will push virality to new heights by taking viewers on journeys through new cultures with BuzzFeed News around the world, as well as everyday experiences that are true to BuzzFeed’s style. NowThis will immerse viewers in 360-degree cityscapes and provide exclusive access to new places and ancient traditions from the comfort of their own home.

“Our 360-degree and virtual reality technologies enable more interactive storytelling to help consumers gain a deeper understanding of the world,” said Younghee Lee, CMO and Executive Vice President, Samsung Electronics. “These partnerships are a testament to our dedication to reimagining the way moments are captured and shared, and making these immersive experiences accessible to more consumers.”

Samsung builds on its continued efforts to shape a new era of journalism and content consumption by giving viewers access to news and content from all angles. Through partnerships and collaborations, Samsung hopes to inspire Millennials and Generation Z to contribute, create and share their own 360-degree videos and experiences.

“We’re excited to partner with Samsung to give our audience engaging, social 360-degree video content,” said Matthew Henick, Head of Development, BuzzFeed. “Samsung’s 360-degree technology will enable BuzzFeed to use our ‘test and learn’ strategy to unlock new kinds of shareable content, while learning more about how audiences are consuming and using it.”

“We’ve seen a ton of success with our millennial audience delivering the content they want, on the platforms they want, and in the formats, they want,” said Christian Tom, Publisher, NowThis.
“Integrating Samsung’s 360-degree technology allows us to take our storytelling capabilities a step further and give our audience a deeper look into places and experiences they might not otherwise see, through the NowThis lens.”

Samsung recently announced its latest Samsung Gear 360, a 4K-resolution-capable 360-degree camera with enhanced features for easier user operation and high-quality content. For more product information, please visit
http://www.samsungmobilepress.com