This summer, the Rocket Tower at the award winning National Space Centre will be climbing new heights as the most exciting development in the Centre’s nine year history launches: Space Race.
Space Race will coincide with the leading Leicester tourist attraction welcoming its 2 millionth visitor. It is the culmination of over two years of work to create a new experience that will take visitors on an amazing journey through the imagination of man and onto the surface of the moon.
One of the highlights of the new exhibition will be a canine high-altitude partial pressure suit for use in sub-orbital biological research flights. That’s right – a dog spacesuit!
Dog Space Suit on display at National Space Centre, Leicester
Orbital and sub-orbital tests with animals started in the 1950s and continued right up to 25th March 1961, when the successful return of the life-size mannequin “Ivan Ivanovich” and his canine crewmate Zvezdochka gave Yuri Gagarin the green light for the first manned spaceflight on 14th April 1961.
In the first series of tests, the dogs were launched in pressurised cabins up to an altitude of 100km, with the cabin and dog then gently parachuted to the ground. The second series of launches required full or partial pressure suits, such as the one pictured above, which is about to go on display at the National Space Centre.
This will be the only suit of its kind on display anywhere in the world and visitors to the National Space Centre will be able to see it for the first time when Space Race launches on 17th July 2010.
The creation of three brand new interactive floors within the iconic Rocket Tower will make a visit to the National Space Centre a must for this summer holiday period.
Did you know?
The National Space Centre is the UK’s largest visitor attraction and research facility dedicated to space.
The National Space Centre opened to the public in June 2001 and has welcomed over 1.7 million visitors, including over 400,000 school children.
The National Space Centre is the Millennium Commission’s landmark project for the East Midlands. It was co-founded by The University of Leicester and Leicester City Council. Its other founding partners are BT and East Midlands Development Agency.
For opening times and directions, please visit www.spacecentre.co.uk
COMPETITION
Enter Now to win an all day Family Pass to the Space Centre!
Q1: What is the Tower at the National Space Centre called?
a) Eiffel Tower b) Rocket Tower c) Leaning Tower
Q2: A high-altitude partial pressure suit will be on display at the Centre this summer, but for which animal?
a) Monkey b) Cow c) Dog
Send answers in via email to: competitions@whatcanwedotoday.co.uk or by post to: What Can We Do Today, 89 Loughborough Road, Mountsorrel, Leicestershire, LE12 7AP.
Don’t forget to include your Name, Address, Email address and Telephone Number
- First one picked out of the hat wins
- Competition closes: Monday 2nd August 2010
- The winner will be announced on our website and on our Twitter page