Discover fascinating Mars facts
THIS school half term, February 15-23, Mars needs you!
Come face to face with a Mars rover, discover all about four amazing missions to the Red Planet, watch a live science show and get hands on with activities for all the family.
Every 26 months or so, Earth and Mars get closer. As they near one another, a window of opportunity opens for launching to the red planet. In the summer of 2020, four space agencies around the world plan to launch pioneering missions. Come to the National Space Centre to discover what we know, what is happening right now and the future of landing humans on Mars.
“It might be helpful to realise, that very probably the parents of the first native born Martians are alive today.” — Harrison ‘Jack’ Schmitt, Apollo 17. Activities
Join the Centre for a live science show to explore the exciting missions launching to Mars in 2020 and learn about future robotic and human exploration of the red planet!
Explore the science zone filled with fun hands-on Mars themed activities! Investigate the senses of Mars, Mars geology and more!
Meet the Expert: Hear about the latest Mars missions and research by experts in Martian exploration! (Weekends only)
Meet Bruno: Come and meet our special guest, Bruno, a working model of the ExoMars rover, alongside Airbus Exomars experts who will drive Bruno across our mini Martian surface at the National Space Centre.
When you buy a ticket to the National Space Centre you will also be able to see an award-winning planetarium show at no extra cost.
Tickets
Book now and upgrade your ticket to an Annual Pass for free. Tickets cost £15.50 per adult and £12.50 per child with a planetarium show included in each ticket. https://spacecentre.co.uk/ event/mission-mars/
Annual passes are valid (£3 per person to add a planetarium show upon arrival, subject to availability). Handy Hints:
Boosters café will be serving a selection of freshly made seasonal sandwiches, as well as soups, hot dogs, nachos, snacks, cakes, fruit, crisps and Leicester roasted real bean coffees and teas.
If you want to bring your own food, there will be a picnic space available in the John Eggleston Suite, which you can find next to the Rocket Tower.
Buy tickets in advance to guarantee entry and beat the queues (available up to midnight the day prior to you visit).
Arrive early. Peak arrival is from 11am. We open at 10am, so the centre is quieter for the first hour.
Arrive late. Although this option does sometimes mean you won’t get a planetarium show included in your first visit, your ticket will automatically be upgraded to an Annual Pass, so we can give you a ticket for a FREE show on your second visit. From 14:00 the Centre is a lot quieter.
Car parking is £3 for the whole day and you can either pay at the machine upon arrival, or you can pay at the ticket desk and give us your car registration. We have over 400 car parking spaces available. If the car park is full please do not park in residential areas around the Centre, the Birstall Park and Ride is only 2 miles away and the bus stops on Abbey Lane for a short walk to the Centre.
Visit popular areas first – the Rocket Tower gets very busy during peak periods (11am-2pm) so plan to visit here outside of these hours.