The Soyuz National Tour Lands in Edinburgh

London, UK – 31 May 2018 – On Thursday 17^th May, European Space Agency Astronaut Tim Peake unveiled his Soyuz spacecraft at the National Museum of Scotland. The spacecraft – which he used as part of the Principia Mission to the International Space Station – goes on display at the Museum until 4 August.

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/