Beagle 2 Replica
user:geni CC BY-SA 4.0

Beagle 2 Celebration Day

Celebrate the Beagle 2 Mars mission with family activities, expert talks and a special plaque unveiling for space fans of all ages.
  • 7th Jun 2026
  • Beagle 2 Celebration
  • For families and space fans
  • Included with entry
  • Extra talks and activities

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The Beagle 2 team working in view of some excited school children.
National Space Centre/University of Leicester/Beagle 2 Team

Join the National Space Centre and the UK Space Agency for a special one‑day celebration of the Beagle 2 Mars mission – a landmark moment in European space exploration led from Leicester. Discover the extraordinary story of Britain’s first Mars lander through hands‑on family activities, inspiring talks and a unique lunchtime plaque unveiling marking the historic Lander Operation Control Centre.
The afternoon culminates in an in‑depth panel discussion for highly science‑engaged audiences, offering rare insight from those close to the mission and those that have benefited from the new space approach that Beagle 2 laid the foundations for.
Whether you’re a curious family, space enthusiast or passionate science supporter, this is a one‑off opportunity to explore a mission that changed our understanding of Mars – and our place in space.

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Space Lates talk on LIVE Space stage
National Space Centre

Mission Mars - Family-friendly Talk

Head over to our Live Space stage for an interactive short talk by our Discovery team where they'll take you on an adventure highlighting the challenges of travelling to, living on and returning home from the red planet

Time: 11:00 and 13:30

Drop-in Activities

Join our Discovery Team for tabletop activities throughout the day looking at the Beagle II mission and the red planet.

  1. Rovers (21)

    Rovers

    • 11:00-12:00

    Get hands on with our programmable rovers and see if you've got what it takes to become an engineer navigating a spacecraft around our Martian landscape. 

  2. Footprint on Mars from One Step Beyond
    NSC Creative

    Exploring Mars

    • 13:00-14:00

    Join our Discovery team to find out about some of the interesting features and landmarks on the red planet with our tactile Mars landscape.

  3. Beagle 2 At The Space Centre Leicester (452719107)
    Gavin Stewart (CC BY 2.0)

    Beagle 2

    • 14:30-15:30

    Let our Discovery team help you explore a life-sized model of the Beagle 2 lander - Europe's first mission to another planetary body, designed and developed in the UK.

Outside the Beagle 2 control centre at the National Space Centre.
National Space Centre/University of Leicester/Beagle 2 Team

Beagle 2 - Plaque Unveiling

Join us in the Live Space for the official unveiling of a Beagle 2 commemorative plaque that will mark the location of the Lander Operations Control Centre here at the National Space Centre, for this pioneering mission. 

Time: 12:00

Chris Lee 3 (1)

Chris Lee - Plaque Unveil

Chris Lee graduated from the University of Leicester in 1980 with degrees in astronomy and space science, before spending more than 40 years working across the UK space sector. His career included key roles on major missions such as Hubble, Giotto, Envisat and ExoMars, and he was part of the Beagle 2 team that was responsible for developing the Lander Operations Control Centre and the lander’s on board software. In 2014 he joined the UK Space Agency as Head of International Policy and Partnerships, later serving as the Agency’s Chief Scientist until his retirement in 2020. He is now a Visiting Professor at the University of Leicester.

Panel Guests

From 14:30 we will have a special panel discussion and Q&A from the LIVE Space stage. This will be up to 90 minutes and open to all day ticket holders to attend.

  1. Mark Sims Picture Crop

    Professor Mark Sims

    • Professor of Astrobiology and Space Instrumentation, University of Leicester

    Known for his contributions to space science research and higher education in the UK over 42 years, Mark’s work has supported projects linked to astronomy, Earth observation, planetary science, space instrumentation, and scientific collaboration. Between 1997-2004, he was the Mission Manager for the Beagle 2 Mars lander project and has contributed to Leicester’s strong reputation in the global space science community, helping to support the next generation of researchers. 

  2. Dhara - crop

    Dhara Patel

    • Space Expert, National Space Centre

    Beginning her career as a secondary school science teacher, Dhara has spent the last decade working as a science communicator helping to share space news and stories with audiences of all ages. As someone inspired by the feats of space exploration, including Beagle 2, her work at the National Space Centre is focused around inspiring curiosity and boosting STEM skills - using case studies like Beagle 2 to showcase the power of ingenuity and the potential of a pioneering outlook.

  3. Matt Cosby

    Matthew Cosby

    • Chief Technology Officer, Goonhilly Earth Station Ltd

    Matthew Cosby worked within the QinetiQ team that developed the UHF transceivers for both Beagle-2 and Mars Express spacecraft. This work paved the way for the development of ESA’s ExoMars UHF communication systems and his appointment as the UK Space Agency representative for Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) communication standards. Leveraging this expertise, he led the upgrade of Goonhilly’s 32-metre antenna to operate NASA and ESA deep space missions, including regularly supporting Mars Express.

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    Professor Anu Ojha OBE - Host

    • Space Chief Technology Officer, UK Space Agency

    Previously Director for Championing Space at the UK Space Agency, he led ESA commitments, international relations, skills and workforce development, parliamentary affairs, and stakeholder engagement, and continues as a strategic ambassador for UK space priorities. Founder of the UK National Space Academy and an Honorary Professor at the University of Leicester, his work spans space missions, education and policy. His technical contributions include ESA mission analysis, nuclear power research for exploration and leading ISS education programmes, alongside shaping UK, ESA and NATO space strategy and international partnerships.