From Space Crew to the Moon and Beyond
- 27th Jul 2026
- Author: Elliott Langley
If you joined us for our 25th birthday celebrations, you may have spotted a familiar face. We were absolutely delighted to welcome back James Carpenter, one of the National Space Centre's original Space Crew members, to officially open our brand-new Outer Solar System experience and help celebrate this special milestone.
Since leaving the Centre in 2002, James has built an impressive career in space science and is now Head of the Lunar Science Office at the European Space Agency.
For this Our Space, I was lucky enough to sit and chat with James after the festivities were over, in order to hear all about his remarkable journey.
Please can you introduce yourself James?
I am Head of the Lunar Science Office for the Directorate of Human and Robotic Exploration at the ESA, based at ESTEC in the Netherlands. I am a physicist by background, having completed both my undergraduate degree and PhD at the University of Leicester in space science instrumentation. I also worked as part of the National Space Centre's original Space Crew when it opened in June 2001.
What do you remember about working at the National Space Centre when it first opened?
It was incredibly exciting. We all felt deeply involved in something completely new and unique. For many of us, it was our first experience of communicating space science to the public, and I absolutely loved that. Being surrounded by artefacts with incredible stories, such as the Apollo 17 Moon rock, was something really special. Sharing those stories with visitors was enormously rewarding.
What is it like returning to the National Space Centre now?
The details have changed and some exhibits are different, but the overall look and feel remains remarkably similar. The big structural features are still there, the galleries feel familiar, and the spirit of the place has not changed. I think that is wonderful because it has always been a very special place.
What was Space Crew like back then?
We were a very diverse group of young people brought together by this exciting new project. Some came from the University, others from completely different backgrounds, but we quickly became close friends. I have so many fond memories… one colleague would give the audience introductions before the Planetarium show and occasionally invent outrageous stories about me, things like claiming I had just become a father and encouraging everyone to congratulate me before starting the show! Those were great times.
Twenty-five years later, some of the strongest friendships I have are still from my time at the National Space Centre. The camaraderie was incredible, both during work and afterwards when we would often head to the pub together.
What did you do after leaving?
I started my PhD at what was then the University of Leicester's Space Research Centre. A significant part of my research focused on the early development of the Mercury Imaging X-ray Spectrometer (MIXS), which is now represented by a model in the Our Solar System gallery. It is quite surreal seeing something that once existed only in my PhD work displayed as real hardware that is now on its way to Mercury.
And how did you end up working at ESA?
After finishing my PhD and spending several years working at the University of Leicester, an opportunity came up at ESA in the Netherlands. Things moved very quickly. I sent my CV, interviewed two days later, received an offer the next day, and a month later I was living in Noordwijk. I worked on future Mars and Moon exploration projects as a contractor for nine years before becoming an ESA staff member. Today, lunar exploration has become one of ESA's fastest-growing and most exciting areas.
How do you feel about the current state of space exploration?
We are in an extraordinary period. The amount of activity happening across the space sector is incredible. When I first started working in lunar exploration, I knew almost everyone involved worldwide. Today, that is impossible. There are simply so many missions, projects and organisations involved. It genuinely feels like we are at a pivotal moment where space is rapidly expanding as a domain of human activity. That is both hugely exciting and a significant responsibility.
Does the National Space Centre still influence you today?
Absolutely. It is an organisation that I am very fond of and one I strongly believe in. One of the most valuable things I learned here was how to communicate with people from all kinds of backgrounds and levels of knowledge. Those public engagement skills have been enormously useful throughout my career. Whenever I have the opportunity to support the National Space Centre, I try to do so.
It was a huge honour to be called up and asked to celebrate the Centre’s 25th birthday and open the new Outer Solar System experience. It felt like coming full circle. Plus, I got to bash a piñata in the galleries I was so familiar with, which was great fun.
It has been wonderful to have you here. So, what are you currently working on at ESA?
We have a number of exciting lunar projects underway. ESA is developing the Argonaut lunar lander and preparing several missions that will launch over the next few years.
The project I am most excited about is Prospect, which will travel to the Moon's south polar region. It will drill up to a metre below the surface, collect samples and analyse them in a sophisticated laboratory onboard. The goal is to investigate water ice and assess the Moon's potential resources, which could be vital for future exploration.
That sounds exciting. What advice would you give to young people considering a career in STEM?
Get involved. The world increasingly relies on science, engineering and technology, and those skills are more important than ever.
Space exploration brings people together internationally to achieve something genuinely inspiring. The skills developed through STEM subjects are valuable everywhere, and the opportunities continue to grow.
The National Space Centre itself offers something very special. Whether you are working here or simply visiting, it is a place that can inspire curiosity, build relationships and open doors to new possibilities.
Finally, what does 'Space for Everyone' mean to you?
Space already touches everyone's lives, whether they realise it or not. The discoveries, technologies and knowledge it generates belong to all of us. Space can inspire imagination, creativity and ambition. It can help people understand the world around them and create pathways to the future.
As a final note, I will mention that we are entering a period where the Moon is becoming a place where humans will increasingly work and explore. As I often say, "The Moon today is Antarctica 100 years ago."
The decisions we make now will shape how humanity operates beyond Earth for generations to come.
Huge thanks to James for taking the time to speak with me, and for being such a huge part of the National Space Centre’s 25th birthday and our history.
