Astroberry
- 13th Feb 2026
Let’s make a drink that tastes like space!
The National Space Centre has been working with Steep Soda since 2025, when we started stocking Ginger Beer, Lime and Cucumber, and Hibiscus Lemonade flavoured pop in Boosters Café for our brilliant visitors.
In 2026, to celebrate 25 years of the National Space Centre, our space experts teamed up with the craft soda specialists at Steep to develop a brand-new flavour for the National Space Centre, one that tastes like the centre of the galaxy.
Flavour Facts - Raspberry Lemonade
When it came to choosing a flavour for our special collaboration, one idea jumped straight out at us. And it wasn't to make a drink that tastes like seared metal, as many astronauts report they smell on their spacesuits after a spacewalk.
We had to make a soft drink that tasted like space, and that would also be good to drink. When our experts got to work exploring ideas they came across some amazing space science:
- Scientists have used a radio telescope to look at Sagittarius B2, a dust cloud near the centre of the Milky Way that is the most active star-forming cloud in our galaxy.
- They were looking to identify complex chemicals, amino acids, that are considered to be the 'building blocks of life' which could indicate the potential for life elsewhere in our galaxy.
- They didn't find exactly what they were looking for, but they detected the presence of the compound ethyl formate. This is a core component of the chemical mix that helps gives raspberries their flavour.
And so the flavour we created together with Steep Soda, using natural, fresh ingredients, is Astroberry - Raspberry Lemonade.
When you take a sip of your special Steep Soda can, just think... you can almost taste the centre of our galaxy.
Leicestershire Local
It’s important for our family friendly café to source food and drink that is made locally and sustainably. Steep Soda is made honestly, ethically, and with passion in Barrow upon Soar, near Loughborough. That’s less than ten miles away.
It also helps that they make award-winning small batch craft sodas with a range of flavours for the whole family to try.
Every Steep Soda purchase you make at the National Space Centre directly supports our educational charity, helping us to continue our mission to get people excited, inspire curiosity and boost STEM skills by making space accessible, educational and fun for all ages. #SpaceForEveryone
