National Space Centre

The centre has six main galleries of exhibits and visitor activities covering space flight, astronomy and cosmology. The attraction also includes a Digistar 3 dome cinema and planetarium, a gift shop and a restaurant. The restaurant is situated beneath the two nozzles of the Blue Streak and PGM-17 Thor rockets.

School Visits

The National Space Centre has a wide variety of interactive hands on galleries for your groups to explore during your visit. These galleries contain everything you need to know about Space including: How Stars are formed, What is gravity like on other planets? and what is it like to be an Astronaut?

As part of your visit you will also have a Planetarium Show included. In our 360 degree Planetarium you will experience one of our amazing shows all about Space. To find out more click here.

We also offer gallery trails. These trails will guide your groups around a variety of our galleries to answer questions and solve puzzles based on curriculum topics. Click here to find out more..

To enhance your visit why not book one of our fun and informative workshop activities that are all based on National Curriculum guidelines. You can find out about forces through our Rockets workshop or maybe the Earth and Beyond in our Earth, Moon and Sun workshop, or even what an astronaut's Life in Space is all about!.

School Space Missions

The Challenger Learning Centre is one of only two educational space mission simulators of its type outside of North America. It was founded by the families of the astronauts lost during the last flight of the Challenger Space Shuttle in 1986.

When students arrive, a short briefing is held in which the Mission Commanders and the student Astronauts review their Mission objectives.

The group is then divided, so that the Mission Controllers can take their stations and the Astronauts "blast off" to the Space Station.

Throughout the Mission, students are presented with tasks and realistic dilemmas that build problem solving, critical thinking, and communication skills.

Halfway through, the Mission requires a crew exchange so everyone has an opportunity to experience both Mission Control and the Space Station.

The Missions have been specifically adapted by the University of Leicester to fit the requirements of the National Curriculum. The missions are designed for groups of between 14 - 34 participants.

Find out more HERE.

Full missions last for 2½  hours (for max. 34 children) and cost £350+VAT

"The best bit was when I went into the Challenger Centre where I became a Mission Controller. I had a fantastic time and I will definitely be coming again!" Bronte Highfield, St. Andrew's Primary School