The event program is still being updated - please check back here to see the full list of talks and live shows as they're confirmed.

1. Roadside Assistance in Space

   • David Keszthelyi, Astroscale
   • TBC

   Imagine if the roads on Earth had no roadside assistance, no fuel stations, and nothing to clean them up with. That is exactly what is happening in space. In this talk, spacecraft engineer David explores how badly our orbital highways need roadside assistance and how “space tow trucks” work. Learn more about the dangerous debris filled orbits satellites have to work in, and how essential it is that we keep them safe by keeping space tidy.

2. Walrus from Space

   • Rod Downie, WWF
   • TBC

   Walrus are an iconic species of immense cultural importance to Arctic people.Since 2021, WWF and British Antarctic Survey (BAS) have been asking the public to become ‘Walrus Detectives’ and help contribute to conservation science by searching for and counting walrus in thousands of satellite images taken from space. Join Rod to learn how this project will help scientists to better understand the impact of climate change on populations of this iconic species and help safeguard their future.

Meet the Experts

1. Keynote - Dallas Campbell

   • Broadcaster and Author

   Dallas has presented some of television’s highest-profile factual programmes for the BBC and beyond, including: The Gadget Show, Bang Goes the Theory, Supersized Earth, Stargazing Live, and The Sky at Night.

   He has written two books on the history and culture of space of space exploration: Ad, Astra an Illustrated Guide to Leaving the Planet (Simon & Schuster) and Space Journal: The Art and Science of Cosmic Exploration (Thames & Hudson), as well as contributing to several others.

2. David Keszthelyi

   • GNC Systems Team Lead, Astroscale

   David has spent his career working in the UK as a spacecraft engineer – mostly specializing in Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC). His passion truly took off at Nanoavionics, where working on CubeSats and leading a small technical team taught him how to balance hands-on engineering with leadership.

   He now leads the development of the GNC system for the ELSA-M mission at Astroscale, designed to remove defunct satellites from Earth’s orbit. His dedication to the space industry earned him a spot on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list.

3. Rod Downie

   • Chief Advisor, Polar & Oceans, WWF

   Rod has worked in the polar regions for nearly 30 years, initially at the British Antarctic Survey and for the last 15 years with WWF. With 15 field seasons in Antarctica under his belt (totalling 2 ½ years of living and working on the ice), he has also worked in the Canadian, Russian and Norwegian Arctic.

   Rod leads a wide portfolio of science and conservation projects ranging from krill and humpback whales to polar bears and ‘Walrus from Space’. Additionally, he serves as an advisor to the UK Government at the Antarctic Treaty, as well as sitting on numerous scientific and technical advisory bodies. 

4. Charles Black

   • Founder and CEO, Sen

   Charles has been passionate about space since he was a child, and came up with the original vision for Sen in 1991, aged 19.

   Prior to founding Sen, Charles set up his first company, cloud computing business Nasstar, in 1998. Nasstar plc was admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange in 2005. Charles stepped down as CEO of Nasstar in 2014 in order to focus on Sen, pursuing his life-long dream to democratize space by streaming real-time videos from space for the benefit of all humanity.

5. Daisy Richardson

   • Software Engineer, Goonhilly

   In 2018, Daisy was part of the winning team for the UK CanSat competition. It inspired her to aim for a career in the space industry which she began by completing her degree in Physics with Astrophysics at the University of Leeds.

   She started her careers on an internship with a Welsh start-up called B2Space, and stayed on as a Junior Aerospace Engineer. More recently she moved to Goonhilly and now works as a Software Engineer, recovering signals and generating a simulator to test the set-up of this major satellite communications station.

6. Greg Duffy

   • Director, Prospero Space Fellowship

   Greg is a passionate advocate for the space industry. He is a founding director of the first UK space fellowship – Prospero Space Fellowship. He is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, a STEM Ambassador and has mentored ESA CanSat teams since 2015 with teams winning the UK competition in 2018 and 2019.

   Greg is also an Assistant Headteacher in the East Midlands.

Activities & Workshops

The event program is still being updated - please check back here to see the full list of activities and workshops as they're confirmed.

1. Orbiter – Cleaning Up Space!

   • Astroscale
   • TBC

   Space is becoming less spacious....

   Just like cars on a busy road, satellites are now facing higher risks of colliding with each other or with pieces of space debris. Come help us build our space tow truck satellite and play our retro game, ORBITER, to learn more about different types of debris, how they threaten activities in space, and see if you have what it takes to navigate the orbital highways!

2. Telescopes and Daytime Observing

   • Leicester Astronomical Society
   • TBC

   Meet the Leicester Astronomical Society to find out more about stargazing and to look through their telescopes. *weather permitting in the Car Park, or Boosters if poor weather.

   Limited availability (first come, first served basis): Bring your own telescope along and members of the Leicester Astronomical Society will happily offer telescope setting-up advice.

3. Walrus Detectives

   • WWF
   • TBC

   The Walrus from Space project which is in cooperation with scientists around the Arctic, aims to carry out a census of Atlantic walrus populations in Canada, Greenland and the Norwegian Arctic using satellite imagery, and explore what might happen to them in the context of rapid climate change.

   Come and along and find out how you can become a Walrus Detective yourself!

4. Watch Space Live

   • Sen
   • TBC

   Sen operates a 4K UHD video camera system hosted on the International Space Station (ISS) which livestreams around 20 hours per day of video from three different cameras. And they'll be launching more video cameras into space into different orbits to increase the amount of live video from space.

   Watch the world’s first and only 4K UHD livestream of Earth from space and find out how streaming real-time videos from space can benefit of all humanity.

5. UK Launch Ecosystem

   • Prospero Space Fellowship & Goonhilly Ltd.
   • TBC

   In this collaborative and interactive activity join Prospero and Goonhilly to experience the future of UK launch capabilities by celebrating and simulating the UK Launch Ecosystem.

   Launch your Mars sample return spacecraft, create and test your range safety zone, and keep shipping and aircraft safe. Track your spacecraft, collect the Mars sample and clear up space junk - all while collecting stickers and completing your mission certificate.

    

    

Planetarium Shows

1. One Step Beyond

   • Brand-New Show
   • 10:20 / 13:50 / 15:10
   • Ages 5+

   From our first baby steps to setting foot on the Moon, humanity has always been driven to explore. Now, as we look to our next giant leap, Mars stands as our most ambitious goal yet. This new show explores the challenges of sending humans to the Red Planet, the global effort it will take, and the possibility of discovering signs of ancient life.

2. Tour of the Night Sky

   • Presenter-Led Show
   • 11:10 / 15:50
   • Ages 8+

   Join a member of our Discovery Team for an immersive journey through the wonders of the Universe. Your presenter will guide you through the current seasonal night sky before venturing into space for a unique perspective of Earth and distant celestial objects.

3. The Great Solar System Adventure

   • Award-Winning Show
   • 11:50 / 14:30 / 16:30*
   • Ages 5+

   Step inside the Observatorium for a thrilling journey across the Solar System, led by showman extraordinaire The Great Schiaparelli. From the scorched surface of Mercury to the icy reaches beyond Pluto, this daring adventure dives into the dangers and wonders of space and reminds us just how extraordinary Earth truly is. The 16:30 show is subtitled*.