People across the region are being offered the chance to make their mark on a pioneering UK space mission.
Newcastle’s Life Science Centre is supporting a competition launched today by the Association of Science and Discovery Centres (ASDC), in partnership with the UK Space Agency.
The challenge is to come up with a name for the spacecraft being used in the UK’s Active Debris Removal mission. The mission aims to tackle the growing problem of space debris – the defunct satellites and other human-made objects orbiting Earth that pose a risk to spacecraft and future space exploration.
A specially designed spacecraft, built by ClearSpace UK and equipped with advanced British robotics and autonomous navigation technology, will capture and safely remove two non-functioning UK-licensed satellites from low Earth orbit.
Entrants to the competition are being asked to suggest a memorable name of no more than two words, together with a short explanation of up to 150 words, showing how it reflects the theme of keeping space clean and safe for future generations.
The competition is open until 5pm on 10 December and the winning name will appear on the mission patch and spacecraft. There’s a link to enter here.
“This is an exciting moment in British space history. It’s a great opportunity for people in the North East to not only learn more about the technology that drives the space industry but also to have a go at putting their name on a specially designed spacecraft.
“Life aims to inspire people of all ages and backgrounds to explore science and to find out more about some of the fantastic career possibilities in the space sector.”
Life recently announced a major new exhibition for 2027 called The Force of the Story, featuring a private collection of Star Wars memorabilia, which will form the centrepiece of a centre-wide programme celebrating the connections between science fiction, real-world science, space exploration and future innovation.
A spokesman for the UK Space Agency said: “We are excited to be working with ASDC and Newcastle’s Life Science Centre, to inspire young people and the public through the competition to name the UK’s Active Debris Removal mission.”