Tim Peake Day
- 18th Jun 2026
- Meet Tim Peake
- Hear Mission Insights
- Principia Activities Included
- Book Signing Opportunities
Join us as we celebrate 10 years since UK ESA astronaut Tim Peake returned to Earth from his Principia mission to the International Space Station. This special event offers visitors the chance to hear directly from Tim about his time in space and the work carried out during the mission.
Throughout the day, guests can take part in a range of activities linked to Principia, hear Tim speak in the Planetarium, and have books signed. It’s a welcoming event for anyone with an interest in space, science, or engineering, and a chance to reflect on the impact of the Principia mission a decade on.
Book Signing 13:00
Since returning from space, Tim has become a bestselling author, writing a wide range of fiction and non‑fiction loved by readers of all ages.
He will be signing the following titles that will be available to purchase in the shop beforehand:
- Space, The Human Story
- Hello, is This Planet Earth
- The Cosmic Diary of Our Incredible Universe
- The Cosmic Diary of a Future Space Explorer
- Ask an Astronaut: My Guide to Life in Space
Priority will be given to books purchased in the Shop. Additional items will only be signed if time allows, at our discretion. These must be appropriate and will be personalised (no signature-only items).
This is a book signing event; priority will always be given to Tim’s books.
Ask an Astronaut Q&A 15:00
Join Ben Brusey from Publishing Director at Penguin Random House for an Ask an Astronaut session with Tim Peake in the UK’s largest planetarium. He will share insights from his Principia mission and reflect on life and work in the decade since returning to Earth.
You’ll also have the chance to put your own questions to Tim. Whether it’s something you’ve always wanted to know or a topic he may not have been asked before, we’ll select a range of questions to include in the session.
You can book this as your planetarium show when buying a ticket. Annual Pass holders can purchase tickets on the day (subject to availability).
Tim Peake
In May 2009 Tim Peake was selected as an ESA astronaut and after arduous training he was assigned to a mission to the International Space Station in May 2013. After many months spent in Russia learning how to operate the Soyuz spacecraft, he launched to space on 15 December 2015.
During his Principia mission Tim took part in over 250 scientific experiments. He conducted a spacewalk to repair the Station’s power supply, drove a rover across a simulated Mars terrain and helped dock two spacecraft. He was also actively connected with the public back on Earth – his mission focused on educational outreach, engaging more than 2 million schoolchildren across Europe in over 30 projects during his time in space.
