Beagle 2 Replica
user:geni CC BY-SA 4.0

Beagle II Celebration Day

Celebrate the Beagle II Mars mission with family activities, expert talks and a special plaque unveiling for space fans of all ages.
  • 7th Jun 2026
  • Beagle II Celebration
  • For families and space fans
  • Included with entry
  • Extra talks and activities

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The Beagle 2 team working in view of some excited school children.
National Space Centre/University of Leicester/Beagle 2 Team

Join the National Space Centre and the UK Space Agency for a special one‑day celebration of the Beagle II Mars mission – a landmark moment in European space exploration led from Leicester. Discover the extraordinary story of Britain’s first Mars lander through hands‑on family activities, inspiring talks and a unique lunchtime plaque unveiling marking the historic Lander Operation Control Centre.
The afternoon culminates in an in‑depth panel discussion for highly science‑engaged audiences, offering rare insight from those close to the mission and those that have benefited from the new space approach that Beagle 2 laid the foundations for.
Whether you’re a curious family, space enthusiast or passionate science supporter, this is a one‑off opportunity to explore a mission that changed our understanding of Mars – and our place in space.

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Space Lates talk on LIVE Space stage
National Space Centre

Family-friendly Talk - Mission Mars

Head over to our Live Space stage for an interactive short talk by our Discovery team where they'll take you on an adventure highlighting the challenges of travelling to, living on and returning home from the red planet

Time: 11:00 am

Drop-in Activities

Join our Discovery Team for table top activities throughout the day looking at the Beagle II mission and the red planet.

  1. Footprint on Mars from One Step Beyond
    NSC Creative

    Exploring Mars

    • TBC

    Join our Discovery team to find out about some of the interesting features and landmarks on the red planet with our tactile Mars landscape.

  2. Rovers (21)

    Rovers

    • TBC

    Get hands on with our programmable rovers and see if you've got what it takes to become an engineer navigating a spacecraft around our Martian landscape. 

  3. Beagle 2 At The Space Centre Leicester (452719107)
    Gavin Stewart (CC BY 2.0)

    Beagle 2

    • TBC

    Let our Discovery team help you explore a life-sized model of the Beagle 2 spacecraft - Europe's first mission to another planetary body, designed and developed in the UK.

Outside the Beagle 2 control centre at the National Space Centre.
National Space Centre/University of Leicester/Beagle 2 Team

Beagle 2 - Plaque Unveiling

Join us in the Live Space for the official unveiling of a Beagle 2 commemorative plaque that will mark the location of the Lander Operations Control Centre here at the National Space Centre, for this pioneering mission. 

Time: 12:00 pm

Panel Guests

From 14:30 we will have a special panel discussion and Q&A from the LIVE Space stage. This will be up to 90 minutes and open to all day ticket holders to attend.

  1. Mark Sims Picture Crop

    Professor Mark Sims

    • Professor of Astrobiology and Space Instrumentation, University of Leicester

    Known for his contributions to space science research and higher education in the UK over 42 years, Mark’s work has supported projects linked to astronomy, Earth observation, planetary science, space instrumentation, and scientific collaboration. Between 1997-2004, he was the Mission Manager for the Beagle 2 Mars lander project and has contributed to Leicester’s strong reputation in the global space science community, helping to support the next generation of researchers. 

  2. Speaker To Be Announced
    National Space Centre

    TBC

    Details will be confirmed soon

  3. Speaker To Be Announced
    National Space Centre

    TBC

    Details will be confirmed soon