The Space Vault Exhibition Events

We are excited to announce a stellar programme of TED-style Expert Talks accompanying our popular Space Vault Exhibition, which explores humanity's journey into space and the science behind it.

The series will feature talks from leading UK space industry experts, offering attendees a rare opportunity to engage with specialists on topics ranging from prevention of space debris collisions and fly-bys of near Earth asteroids, to the challenges of designing lunar landers and achieving in-orbit spacecraft rendezvous.

As part of this events programme, the museum will also offer exclusive Behind-the-Vault sessions, giving guests a unique chance to don white gloves and get up close and personal with some of the most iconic items from the Exhibition, including rare artifacts from NASA’s Apollo missions and the Soviet space era. These intimate sessions are designed to provide deeper insights into the history of space exploration and the technological advancements that made these incredible achievements possible.

The Expert Talk series and Behind-the-Vault sessions will run until May 2025, with events catering to a variety of interests, from general audiences to space aficionados:

Thursday 9th January 2025:

Expert Talk: Space-based solar power: how the UK is turning science fiction into reality

Speaker: Martin Soltau, co-CEO, Space Solar

Space Solar are global leaders on development of space-based solar power to deliver Net Zero and as a reliable component of the future energy mix. Martin’s talk will cover what it is, how it works, technical advances over the last few years, the challenges and unknowns both technological and policy. The talk will also feature latest developments in Iceland, where a 30MW demonstration project is planned.

7.30pm – 9.00pm, £20 per person. Booking button below.

Thursday 23rd January 2025: 

Behind the Vault Session: Crisis in Space: The Soviet Era Space Program

Speaker: Dr Michael Warner, Exhibition owner and curator

Private Behind-the-Vault sessions are available for enthusiasts to take a deep-dive into the Space Vault Exhibition collection. Participants are provided white gloves to examine up-close and hands-on a curated selection of artifacts. In this session we explore cosmonaut Nikolai Budarin’s Mir space station EVA Orlan spacesuit glove and Sokol KV-2 gloves flown on Soyuz TMA-1, and we will attempt to pressurize a Strizh spacesuit developed for the Soviet/Russian Buran space plane.

7.30pm – 9.00pm, £100 per person. Booking button below. 

Thursday 27th February 2025: 

Behind the Vault Session #3: The Origin of Life on Earth: Geology on the Moon during Apollo 15 and 17

Speaker: Dr Michael Warner, Exhibition owner and curator

Private Behind-the-Vault sessions are available for enthusiasts to take a deep-dive into the Space Vault Exhibition collection. Participants are provided white gloves to examine up-close and hands-on a curated selection of artifacts. In this session we explore Apollo 15 and 17 lunar geological surverys and drilling equipment, and investigate the link between the critical lunar samples – the Genesis rock, green glass and orange soil – discovered on these mission and what they tell us about the origins of life on Earth.

7.30pm – 9.00pm, £100 per person. Booking button below. 

Friday 28th February 2025:

Expert Talk: The Tools of Apollo: artifacts from the lunar surface

Speaker: Mark Yates, Engineer, author and collector on human space exploration

Mark’s talk is a step-by-step walk through of the Apollo astronauts time on the lunar surface carrying out the scientific ‘J’ missions of Apollo 15, 16 and 17. Mark will display equipment and tools used on the lunar surface from his own collection, and share his knowledge of ‘the 3rd Apollo spacecraft’: the ingenious lunar backpack that kept Neil, Buzz, Charlie, Alan, Gene and the other Apollo astronauts alive in the vacuum of the lunar surface.

7.30pm – 9.00pm, £20 per person. Booking button below.

Friday 14th March 2025:

Expert Talk: Spacecraft Guidance, Navigation and Rendezvous

Speaker: Kieran Hayward, Head of Spacecraft AOCS & Rendezvous GNC Department, Deimos Space

Kieran will present on the history and current practices spacecraft rendezvous, from the earliest attempts during the NASA Gemini missions docking with Agena target, through to modern day autonomous methods of rendezvous being studied for in-orbit servicing and active debris removal.

7.30pm – 9.00pm, £20 per person. Booking button below.

Friday 23rd May 2025:

Expert Talk: ‘The Last Man on the Moon’ – a talk by documentary film-maker Mark Craig

Speaker: Mark Craig, Film Director, Stopwatch Productions

The award-winning documentary ‘Last Man on the Moon’ brings the human side of space history to the screen. Mark Craig, director and co-producer of the critically-acclaimed feature documentary shares his personal experiences of working with Apollo 17 commander Gene Cernan during the making the film, giving an engaging and entertaining insight into the late, great Apollo astronaut. The talk will include personal photos, unseen clips, and also insights about Mark’s new film: ‘Apollo 1’.

7.30pm – 9.00pm, £20 per person. Booking button below.

Bookings for all events can be made here:

Book Now

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Please note that in the unlikely event that a Talk or other session has to be cancelled, you will be offered the options of a rescheduled date for the same Talk or participating in a different Talk. Should neither of these options work for you and we will provide a full refund.