By Ellie Roberts

Liverpool’s World Museum has joined forces with the European Space Agency’s first British astronaut to explore human space flight and life on the International Space Station.

The city attraction is one of 20 centres across the UK selected to deliver an activity programme to schools and families, following astronaut Tim Peake’ s journey into space later this year.

Backed by the UK Space Agency, the two-year Destination Space programme will focus on Tim Peake’s mission by providing access to hands-on experiments, rocket demonstrations, space equipment and live video footage from the International Space Station.

As well as contributing to the education of young children across Liverpool, Destination Space will also celebrate the team behind Tim Peake, highlighting fantastic opportunities for young people across the space and science sector.

Families and schools will be invited to participate in a calendar of free shows and live events at the museum from October 2015, after the programme was officially announced at the UK Space Conference 2015 in Liverpool this week.

Dr Steve Judd, director of World Museum, says: “We’re thrilled to have been selected to deliver this unique programme, which is brimming with opportunities for children and families to be inspired by the wonders of science and space travel.”

The programme will include special events for Tim Peake’s launch, meet-the-expert sessions and a fabulous astronaut show that will engage and inspire family audiences with Tim’s mission. Special curriculum-linked activities for school children aged 5-14 will begin in January 2016, during Tim’s time in space.

Meanwhile online, Destination Space will allow people to follow Tim Peake’s adventures in space in real time, learning about inspiring figures within the field of human space flight and finding out what role in the crew would suit them.

Image by Mark McNulty

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