Tim Peake’s Spacecraft Lands in York

This month, the National Tour of Tim Peake’s Spacecraft and Space Descent VR launched at its third tour venue – the National Railway Museum in York.

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