Mission Control needs you

Who wants to be an astronaut? Space is really big and this mission will take you all around it. We're going deep inside the galaxy just like space engineers and astronauts do. Let's help Mission Control blast off together.

Explorer:Space is down on the lower floor and it's filled with fantastic things to see and do. There are exhibits for meteorites and stardust fact finding. Learn about robots and coding. You can even find out what atmospheric pressure does when you blast off into space.

Interactive science exhibition photo showing two children in orange space suits and caps standing with their arms outstretched in front of a heat sensor screen
Interactive science exhibition photo showing two children in orange space suits and caps standing with their arms outstretched in front of a heat sensor screen
Interactive science exhibition photo showing the Gravity Well exhibit

Let's explore the Gravity Well

Ready to bring the gravity well of the Solar System to life? Grab your spaceships everyone. Let's shoot them up into space and see where they land. Let's have a challenge and see whose spaceship lands on a planet first. Who's blasting off next?

Interactive science exhibition photo showing the Heat Proof exhibit

Let's explore Heat Proof

You can feel heat but can you see it? You can with Heat Proof. Discover how heat gives off infrared light that makes amazing colours on the heat wall. You can even make heat and write your name on the floor with it. It's like magic!

Accessibility info

Accessibility information for Explorer:Space

The whole area is accessible for everyone to enjoy. You can have great fun using your senses – all the activities are low down so you can reach them easily. You can touch things and feel them. You can see them and listen to all the noises they make. You can book special sensory backpacks and wheelchairs if you need them too. Ask us for a sensory map to find out where the smelly, dark and loud areas are. If you need to borrow ear defenders, they're in the welcome area, Bio:Space, Science Theatre and Science Live. Down here in the lower floor it's quite dark so your eyes might need a while to get used to it.

If you want to have some quiet time, this is the perfect place. The Recombobulation Room is on the lower floor near to Explorer:Space. It's calm and empty and it's quiet. Just take a seat on the floor and watch the clouds floating on the ceiling.

Need anything to make your day easier? Just ask us, we're here to help.

Read all about accessibility here
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Join the Curiosity Club

Spend the next 12 months making new discoveries with an annual membership. Get free entry, discounted tickets to The Planetarium and lots of special extras!

Join us with an annual membership
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Trick or treat this October half term!

Calling all mini monsters, witches and werewolves! Come and join us for some fiendish science fun this October half term. Take on the trick or treat trail. Join the mini monster disco. Watch the Potions Science Lab live show. Plus so much more! 

Find out what's going on
Christmas event promotional image showing a person in an astronaut suit surrounded by floating objects in space.
Space Station Science this Christmas

Our space commanders are on the lookout for new recruits to join them at the Space Station Science Training Academy. Are you ready to start your mission to space?

Join in the fun