UK Space Agency

18/05/2026

On this day in 1991, Dr Helen Sharman OBE became Britain’s first astronaut when she launched to the Mir space station as a research cosmonaut. 🚀🇬🇧

Helen was also:

👩‍🚀 The first Western European woman in space
🛰️ The first woman to visit the Mir space station

Her mission lasted nearly eight days, during which time she conducted medical and agricultural experiments, and returned to Earth on 26 May. 🌍

Image credit: ESA / Gagarin Research & Test Cosmonaut Training Center

22/04/2026

The Lyrid meteor shower peaks tonight, which occurs as Earth passes through the material left behind comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher. ☄️

To get a good view:

🌆 Get as far from light as possible
👀 Let your eyes adjust to the dark
🕛 Spot more meteors after midnight.

10/04/2026

📢 Attention, Edinburgh-based science fans!

The Edinburgh Science Festival is in full swing and runs until 19 April. 🚀

Enjoy a series of exhibitions, workshops, and talks taking place throughout the city, including An Evening with UK astronaut Helen Sharman.

Learn more 👇

We at Edinburgh Science are an education charity behind the annual Science Festival, making science engaging and accessible for all ages.

08/04/2026

History made.

The Artemis II crew are heading home after completing their loop around the Moon, travelling further from Earth than any humans ever have - beating a record of 248,655 miles (400,000km) held since 1970 by the Apollo 13 mission. 🛰️ 🌔

The first flyby images of the Moon captured by the crew include a rare in-space solar eclipse, and the Earth slowly setting behind the Moon's horizon - a breath-taking mirror image of the iconic Earthrise photo from Apollo 8. 🌍

NASA is targeting 11 April for splashdown off the coast of San Diego.

UK companies, scientists and engineers have played important roles in the Artemis programme, while Goonhilly Earth Station in Cornwall has been tracking the Integrity capsule carrying the astronauts for NASA, with more to come. 📡

📸: NASA

04/04/2026

Heading to central London this Easter?

Check out Our Fragile Space - a free photography exhibition exploring the threat of space debris and the future of our night skies – now open in Burlington House courtyard, Piccadilly, until 10 May. 🌍

02/04/2026

Today is the last day to apply for our Skills for Space programme! 🎓

Running for 8 weeks this summer, the programme gives undergraduates and FE students hands-on experience in the UK space sector. 🛰️

Learn more and apply before midnight tonight 👉 https://orlo.uk/z0PwQ

31/03/2026

The countdown is on! 🚀

Artemis II is set to launch tomorrow at 11:24pm BST, sending astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen on a historic journey around the Moon. 🌔

The UK is playing a role in NASA's historic return to the Moon, with Goonhilly Earth Station in Cornwall providing critical lunar communications tracking as the crew ventures further into space than any humans have gone in over 50 years.

Find out how to watch the launch 👉 https://orlo.uk/Ryg31

Image credit: NASA

25/03/2026

Heading to central London?

Check out Our Fragile Space - a powerful photography exhibition exploring the urgent threat of space debris and the future of our night skies – now open in Burlington House courtyard, Piccadilly, until 10 May 2026. 🌍 🛰️

Entry is free, no booking required.

24/03/2026

There's still time to apply for our Skills for Space programme. 🎓

Running for 8 weeks this summer, the programme gives undergraduates and FE students hands-on experience in the UK space sector. 🛰️

Learn more and apply before 3 April.

19/03/2026

Take 2! 🎬

NASA's SLS rocket will roll out to Launch Pad 39B tomorrow morning from 1:00am GMT. 🚀 🌕

The Artemis II mission will send astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen around the Moon. 🧑‍🚀🧑🏿‍🚀👩‍🚀🧑‍🚀

🎥 Hear from our Head of Space Exploration, Matthew Cook.

19/03/2026

opens in cinemas today! 🚀

Space offers exciting careers for young people with a range of skills and backgrounds. 🛰️

Think you’ve got what it takes?

Visit https://orlo.uk/E7sw5 to find out more about a career in space.