UK Space Agency

03/06/2026

The UK government has signed an agreement with Vast that could send UK astronaut John McFall to Haven-1 space station as early as 2027. 🚀🧑‍🚀

📽️Hear from John and Vast's Vice President, Private Crew Recruitment, Tom Shelley.

02/06/2026

Big news! 🚀

The UK government has signed an agreement with US space company Vast that could send UK astronaut and former Paralympian John McFall to space as early as July 2027. 🧑‍🚀

If the mission goes ahead, John would become the first person with a physical disability to reach orbit, where he’ll conduct ground-breaking research into human physiology, prosthetics in microgravity, and movement onboard Vast’s Haven-1 – the world’s first commercial space station. 🛰️

Last year, John became the first astronaut with a physical disability to be medically cleared for a long-duration mission.

Read more - link in the comments. 👇

30/05/2026

This Sunday we'll see a second full Moon in our night sky this month, also known as a 'Blue Moon'. 🌕

But this one's a little different. It's also a micromoon, which means it'll appear slightly smaller and dimmer than usual, because the Moon will be near its furthest point from Earth in its orbit.

29/05/2026

Congratulations to Meganne Christian and John McFall on completing their reserve astronaut training! 👏

The ESA - European Space Agency Astronaut Reserve Training programme gives reserve astronauts the technical, operational and scientific skills needed to support future human spaceflight opportunities. 🚀

📸: ESA – G. Zito

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