Tim Peake’s spacecraft launched at National Museum Cardiff
Visitors flocked to see the iconic spacecraft that brought British astronaut Tim Peake back to earth from the International Space Station (ISS) when it was launched at the National Museum Cardiff last week.
In this free exhibition, visitors can get up close to the Soyuz TMA-19M capsule, complete with parachute and fully-equipped interior and see the char marks on its outer body from its re-entry into the earth’s atmosphere.
It’s displayed alongside Tim Peake’s Sokol KV-2 emergency spacesuit and interactive displays about the ISS. The capsule carried Peake and crewmates Yuri Malenchenko and Tim Kopra to the ISS for a six-month mission, returning in June 2016. It was acquired later by the Science Museum Group. The free exhibition is part of a national tour presented by global technology company Samsung and the Science Museum Group.
Also worth trying is Space Descent VR, supported by Samsung, a unique, virtualreality adventure using Samsung Gear VR technology.
Participants can experience the incredible 250-mile journey back to earth from the ISS in a Soyuz capsule. The seats even twist and turn to give you the most realistic experience of space travel and it’s narrated by Tim Peake himself.
Commenting on the acquisition, European Space Agency astronaut Tim Peake said: “You do become very attached to your spacecraft because it definitely does save your life. I’m absolutely delighted that my Soyuz spacecraft is going to be returning here to the UK and may serve, hopefully, as inspiration for our next generation of scientists and engineers.”
Space Descent VR with Tim Peake and the presentation of Tim Peake’s spacecraft have been made possible with support from Samsung and the generous co-operation of Tim Peake and the European Space Agency.
■ The exhibition is free and opens until February 10, 2019. The Space Descent VR (for visitors 13+) costs £6pp. www.museum.wales/cardiff