Tim Peake's Soyuz spacecraft to land in Peterborough
Peterborough Cathedral is delighted to announce that it has won a nationwide competition to host Tim Peake’s Soyuz spacecraft – Soyuz TMA-19M – and a Space Descent VR experience.It will be displayed in the Cathedral from Saturday 11th August until Monday 5th November 2018. It is also expected that Tim Peake’s own spacesuit will also be part of the display, as well as the parachute used in the spacecraft’s return to earth.
The announcement was made at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester on Friday 9th March. It follows an open competition last year to win the opportunity to be the sixth location on the spacecraft’s national tour. Five venues from across the country entered a shortlist, including Millennium Point in Birmingham and The Forum in Norwich, but it is Peterborough Cathedral that has been chosen. The Soyuz TMA-19M spacecraft was used by Tim Peake for his mission to the International Space Station in 2015–2016. It will be free to visit during its time displayed in the Cathedral. The Space Descent VR, which accompanies it in the exhibition, is a unique virtual reality adventure that brings the experience alive using Samsung Gear VR technology. This will be available to visitors aged 13 and over, and guests will be charged around £6. |
The Dean of Peterborough, the Very Revd Chris Dalliston, said:
“I’m absolutely delighted that we shall be hosting the Soyuz spacecraft in Peterborough, especially in the year we celebrate the Cathedral’s 900th anniversary. Ian Blatchford, Director of the Science Museum Group, 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. |
FAQs
Where will the spacecraft be in the Cathedral?
Soyuz will be displayed in North Transept inside the Cathedral. Services and events will carry on as usual during the exhibition, providing an added attraction to the existing programme.
What was involved in judging the competition?
After an outline application, shortlisted venues were invited to submit a more detailed plan of how they would use the spacecraft’s visit to develop activities for schools and other visitors. Representatives of the Science Museum Group visited the Cathedral to assess the location and gather more information.
The Cathedral was then selected as the winner by an expert panel of judges from the Science Museum Group, Samsung and the UK and European space agencies.
More information about the competition is at https://group.sciencemuseum.org.uk/our-work/tim-peakes-spacecraft-tour/win-the-chance-to-host-tim-peakes-spacecraft
What will be the admission arrangements at the Cathedral?
Tim Peake’s spacecraft – complete with its 25-metre parachute – is, like the Cathedral itself, free to visit. The Space Descent VR will be available to visitors aged 13 and over for an entry fee.
Donations from visitors towards Cathedral running costs are always welcome.
What is the Soyuz TMA-19M descent module?
As well as the Soyuz spacecraft, the exhibition will include the massive parachute used in the descent of the spacecraft to earth, Tim Peake's spacesuit, and * the Space Descent VR, a unique virtual reality adventure that brings the experience alive using Samsung Gear VR technology. (* Ages 13+; admission charge applies).
What is the Science Museum Group?
The Science Museum Group is the world’s leading alliance of science museums, welcoming over five million visitors each year to five sites: the Science Museum in London; the National Railway Museum in York; the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester; the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford; and Locomotion in Shildon. More information can be found at group.sciencemuseum.org.uk.
What is Samsung Electronics Co Ltd?
Samsung Electronics Co Ltd inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, cameras, digital appliances, medical equipment, network systems, and semiconductor and LED solutions. For the latest news please visit Samsung Newsroom at http://news.samsung.com
Soyuz will be displayed in North Transept inside the Cathedral. Services and events will carry on as usual during the exhibition, providing an added attraction to the existing programme.
What was involved in judging the competition?
After an outline application, shortlisted venues were invited to submit a more detailed plan of how they would use the spacecraft’s visit to develop activities for schools and other visitors. Representatives of the Science Museum Group visited the Cathedral to assess the location and gather more information.
The Cathedral was then selected as the winner by an expert panel of judges from the Science Museum Group, Samsung and the UK and European space agencies.
More information about the competition is at https://group.sciencemuseum.org.uk/our-work/tim-peakes-spacecraft-tour/win-the-chance-to-host-tim-peakes-spacecraft
What will be the admission arrangements at the Cathedral?
Tim Peake’s spacecraft – complete with its 25-metre parachute – is, like the Cathedral itself, free to visit. The Space Descent VR will be available to visitors aged 13 and over for an entry fee.
Donations from visitors towards Cathedral running costs are always welcome.
What is the Soyuz TMA-19M descent module?
- Soyuz TMA-19M carried astronauts Yuri Malenchenko (Commander, Russia), Tim Kopra (Flight Engineer, USA) and Tim Peake (Flight Engineer, UK) to the International Space Station on 15 December 2015 and returned the same crew to Earth on 18 June 2016.
- The crew was part of Expeditions 46 and 47 to the International Space Station.
- The outer surfaces have been charred by temperatures of around 1,500 degrees Celsius experienced during atmospheric re-entry.
- The module weights approximately 1.5 tonnes.
As well as the Soyuz spacecraft, the exhibition will include the massive parachute used in the descent of the spacecraft to earth, Tim Peake's spacesuit, and * the Space Descent VR, a unique virtual reality adventure that brings the experience alive using Samsung Gear VR technology. (* Ages 13+; admission charge applies).
What is the Science Museum Group?
The Science Museum Group is the world’s leading alliance of science museums, welcoming over five million visitors each year to five sites: the Science Museum in London; the National Railway Museum in York; the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester; the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford; and Locomotion in Shildon. More information can be found at group.sciencemuseum.org.uk.
What is Samsung Electronics Co Ltd?
Samsung Electronics Co Ltd inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, cameras, digital appliances, medical equipment, network systems, and semiconductor and LED solutions. For the latest news please visit Samsung Newsroom at http://news.samsung.com