UK SPACE AGENCY

In the early hours of tomorrow morning (Saturday 20th October) a spacecraft made possible by the best of UK space science is set to blast off bound for Mercury. BepiColombo is the first European Space Agency mission to Mercury, the least explored planet in the inner Solar System, and will provide new insight into how the planet closest to the Sun formed and evolved. The spacecraft will travel 9 billion km taking 7 years to reach Mercury and is designed to survive extreme temperatures, from +450 to -180 degrees.

Full story and resource: https://bit.ly/2C1IzcS The UK Space Agency has joined a campaign to encourage more girls to study science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM ) and consider careers in space. Working with the WISE Campaign’s People Like Me initiative, the Agency has helped produce a resource pack for schools to boost the recruitment of girls into STEM subjects post-16, particularly those that girls typically do not choose, such as physics and engineering.

Seeds from Isaac Newton’s apple tree, which were blasted into space with Tim Peake, are now young trees and in need of a new home. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/newtons-space-saplings-can-you-give-them-space-to-grow

Hundreds of worms are being flown to the International Space Station later this year for scientists to understand more about spaceflight-induced muscle loss.

New research using worms will look at muscle loss in space and could lead to new treatments for muscular conditions for people on Earth.

Flying at 200 miles above the surface of the Earth, the powerful laser on the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Aeolus spacecraft will beam down into the atmosphere and measure wind speeds – a completely new approach that could revolutionise the accuracy of weather forecasting, helping to protect people from disasters like floods and hurricanes across the world. The spacecraft was built by Airbus Defence and Space in Stevenage. Other British businesses provided critical elements to the mission, including a camera, software and propulsion systems. The substantial extent of UK participation was achieved through the UK Space Agency’s strong, ongoing support of ESA’s Earth Observation Envelope Programme, which benefits industry and science. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/british-built-laser-spacecraft-due-to-be-launched-into-orbit Professor John Remedios (Director of National Centre for Earth Observation) and Beth Greenaway (Head of Earth Observations and Climate at the UK Space Agency) talk about Aeolus, the brand new mission to track winds on a global scale and discuss the importance of collaborating with ESA on such major missions.

A video to celebrate #IWD2018 with women from across the space sector. Here's some expert advice from our #WomenInSpace on pursuing a career and why it's such an exciting sector.

The UK Space Agency is offering young people expert advice for their ideas of how satellites could improve life on Earth and a share of a £50,000 prize. If you know an 11-22 year old with big space ideas, ask them to enter our SatelLife Challenge today. http://bit.ly/2CDbVNa

A video summary of human spaceflight expeditions 46 & 47 for the #Principia post-flight tour events. Credits: Video editing: Maxime Pinchaud. Thanks to: Matthew Day. Footage: Tim Peake, ESA, NASA.

Bear Grylls, Chief Scout and one of the World's most recognised faces of survival and outdoor adventure has sent Tim Peake his best wishes on behalf of all UK Scouts.

British ESA astronaut Tim Peake answers questions on biology experiments he is doing in space, and what more might be possible in future from Jo Johnson MP, Minister for Universities and Science and others.

UK ESA astronaut Tim Peake wishes you a Happy Saint David's Day from the International Space Station.

Tim Peake sends a special message to Scotland's Hogmanay celebrations from the International Space Station on 31 December 2015. To find out more about the Principia mission in the UK, visit: www.principia.org.uk To learn more about Tim's mission to the ISS, visit: www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/Principia UK Space Agency: www.gov.uk/ukspaceagency European Space Agency: www.esa.int

Happy New Year from the International Space Station! Tim Peake wishes the UK - and the rest of planet Earth - all the best for the year ahead from the International Space Station. To find out more about the Principia mission in the UK, visit: www.principia.org.uk To learn more about Tim's mission to the ISS, visit: www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/Principia UK Space Agency: www.gov.uk/ukspaceagency European Space Agency: www.esa.int

With exactly one week to go before British ESA astronaut Tim Peake leaves Earth, he has taken a moment to thank the Principia educational partners who are bringing his mission to school children across the UK.

The UK Space Agency has teamed up with LEGO Master Builders at Bright Bricks to reconstruct the Orbital Module of the Soyuz Capsule. The Soyuz capsule is the Russian space craft which transports astronauts and supplies to the International Space Station. It is currently the only way astronauts can get into space. British ESA astronaut, Tim Peake will be travelling in one for his own launch. This is your opportunity to see what a Soyuz looks like made out of those iconic coloured bricks!

Commentators from across the UK Space industry are celebrating the success of the UK Space Conference 2015, which brought more than 1,000 delegates to Liverpool.

Introductory video to the breaking news plenary session of the UK Space Conference 2015.

The UK Space Agency has partnered with The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Campaign for School Gardening on an innovative educational project Rocket Science, will give around half a million children the chance to learn how investment in human space exploration contributes to our knowledge of life on Earth, using the invaluable expertise of the European Space Agency (ESA) and RHS Science team. Rocket Science will involve 2kg of an as-yet un-named cultivar of rocket seeds (Eruca sativa) sent to the International Space Station as part of British ESA astronaut Tim Peake’s six-month Principia mission. After several months on board, orbiting the planet at 17,000mph, the seeds will be returned to Earth and sent to thousands of UK schools, alongside a batch of seeds of the same cultivar that have stayed on Earth. Over the following months pupils will grow and compare the seeds as they embark on a voyage of discovery to see whether we can sustain human life in space through the production of our own food. The results of the nationwide citizen science experiment will then be analysed to discover whether space travel has impacted on the growth of the seeds. Schools and other education organisations can register their interest in the project at www.rhs.org.uk/schoolgardening.

British European Space Agency astronaut Tim Peake annouces the winners of UKspace's Astro Pi competition. Hannah Belshaw, from Cumnor House Girl's School, and the Brains team from the Cranmere Code Club at Cranmere Primary School, have won the competition and will see their ideas transformed into programmes that will run on Astro Pi computers onboard the International Space Station. Nearly 200 teams from primary schools and clubs all over the UK submitted ideas for experiments and games to be performed using the modified Raspberry Pi computer. This computer, dubbed the ‘Astro Pi’, will be operated by Tim Peake on-board the ISS. He will set the winning experiments running, collect the data generated and then download this to Earth where it will be distributed to the winning teams. The secondary school competition is still open, and it is still possible to get involved. The Astro Pi team are asking school teams and clubs to code up their ideas and submit them by June 29th to get a chance to see their code in space. To apply to receive a free Astro Pi sensor board, to use with an exsisting Rasperry Pi computer, visit www.astro-pi.org.

As British ESA astronaut Tim Peake prepares for his upcoming spaceflight to the International Space Station (ISS), students across the country are being encouraged to get in on the action by taking part in a variety of education and outreach activites being run by the UK Space Agency and the European Space Agency (ESA). Free-of-charge resources for educational activities related to Tim's mission are available from the Space Education Office web site at www.esero.org.uk/timpeake. More activities and resources will be added over the coming months. To stay up to date with all the opportunities for your school or organisation, sign up to the Principia Mission newsletter from the UK Space Agency at www.gov.uk/ukspaceagency.

Tim Peake, the first British ESA astronaut, has issued a invitation to UK school pupils to contact him via Amateur Radio whilst he is in space. Full details about Amateur Radio on the ISS, and how to apply to host a UK based radio link up can be found at http://tinyurl.com/ariss-timpeake. Tim will launch to the International Space Station (ISS) in November of this year and will spend six months working and living on the ISS. Thanks to a collaboration between Amateur Radio on the International Space Stations (ARISS), the UK Space Agency and the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB), UK school pupils will be able to contact him whilst he is on board the ISS via a scheduled Amateur Radio link-up. The ARISS Amateur Radio link-up will take centre stage during a two-day, space related STEM workshop in a select number of schools. In a ten minute window when the ISS will be over the UK, an amateur radio contact will be established with Tim on board the station. Using only Amateur Radio equipment on the ISS and on the ground, the students will be able to hear, and potentially see, Tim’s response immediately. Tim will be using the amateur radio callsign GB1SS whilst he is talking to UK based schools.

Leading UK space organisations have joined forces with British ESA Astronaut Tim Peake and Raspberry Pi to offer students a chance to devise and code their own apps or experiment to run in space. Two Raspberry Pi computers are planned to be flown to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of Tim’s 6 month mission and both will be connected to a new “Astro Pi” board, loaded with a host of sensors and gadgets. Read the full story: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/send-your-computer-code-into-space-with-astronaut-tim-peake

In May 2014, British ESA astronaut Tim Peake challenged the school children of the United Kingom to design a meal for him to eat during his 6-month stay on board the International Space Station, in the UK Space Agency's Great British Space Dinner competition. Archie Luckett, from Abberley Parochial V.C. Primary School in Worcestershire, was one of 5 winning entries that were selected by Tim Peake and Heston Blumenthal. Archie’s savoury and scrumptious menu of a full English breakfast is in the guise of a big square burger. Tim and Heston selected the winners from more than 500 entries, representing the work of well over 2000 students. They were looking for fun and balanced menus that excited Tim, had an element of Britishness, and the potential to be transformed into a space dinner that could be flown to the ISS.

In May 2014, British ESA astronaut Tim Peake challenged the school children of the United Kingom to design a meal for him to eat during his 6-month stay on board the International Space Station, in the UK Space Agency's Great British Space Dinner competition. The Astro Foodies, Aminah Hussan, Nilum Khaliq and Iram Frooqui from Plashet School in East Ham, were one of 5 winning entries that were selected by Tim Peake and Heston Blumenthal. They designed a delicious three-course meal consisting of soup in a shell of brown bread, a Sunday roast in a helmet-shaped pie and a dessert of bite-sized treats in the shape of planets. Tim and Heston selected the winners from more than 500 entries, representing the work of well over 2000 students. They were looking for fun and balanced menus that excited Tim, had an element of Britishness, and the potential to be transformed into a space dinner that could be flown to the ISS.

In May 2014, British ESA astronaut Tim Peake challenged the school children of the United Kingom to design a meal for him to eat during his 6-month stay on board the International Space Station, in the UK Space Agency's Great British Space Dinner competition. The KFSPACEGIRLS, Ellie Hiscock, Katie Perry, Nafissa Khan, Mia Tinnion and Suzi Peacock from Emmanuel College in Gateshead, were one of 5 winning entries that were selected by Tim Peake and Heston Blumenthal. Their mouth-watering three-course meal in a lolly consists of tomato and basil soup, a spicy mackerel curry and an Eton mess. Tim and Heston selected the winners from more than 500 entries, representing the work of well over 2000 students. They were looking for fun and balanced menus that excited Tim, had an element of Britishness, and the potential to be transformed into a space dinner that could be flown to the ISS.

In May 2014, British ESA astronaut Tim Peake challenged the school children of the United Kingom to design a meal for him to eat during his 6-month stay on board the International Space Station, in the UK Space Agency's Great British Space Dinner competition. Chloe Cockhull, from the Nova Hreod Academy in Swindon, was one of 5 winning entries that were selected by Tim Peake and Heston Blumenthal. Chloe’s Anglo-Indian meal of spicy fusion food and a delicious rhubarb and custard dessert is designed to be taken into space in a tiffin carrier. Tim and Heston selected the winners from more than 500 entries, representing the work of well over 2000 students. They were looking for fun and balanced menus that excited Tim, had an element of Britishness, and the potential to be transformed into a space dinner that could be flown to the ISS.

In May 2014, British ESA astronaut Tim Peake challenged the school children of the United Kingom to design a meal for him to eat during his 6-month stay on board the International Space Station, in the UK Space Agency's Great British Space Dinner competition. Joe Drennan, from Wray Common Primary School in Reigate, was one of 5 winning entries that were selected by Tim Peake and Heston Blumenthal. Joseph invented a cosmic menu of tomato and rocket soup, best of British beef stew with asteroid dumplings and a chocolate mousse with space dust. Tim and Heston selected the winners from more than 500 entries, representing the work of well over 2000 students. They were looking for fun and balanced menus that excited Tim, had an element of Britishness, and the potential to be transformed into a space dinner that could be flown to the ISS.

This entry was submitted by Year 7 from Sir Joseph Mathematical School in Rochester, Kent, to the UK Space Agency's Great British Space Dinner competiton. British ESA astronaut Tim Peake challenged the children of Great Britiain to design a meal for him to eat in space during his mission to the International Space Station in 2015.

This entry was submitted by the Astro-Foodies team at Plashet School in East London to the UK Space Agency's Great British Space Dinner competiton. British ESA astronaut Tim Peake challenged the children of Great Britiain to design a meal for him to eat in space during his mission to the International Space Station in 2015.

This entry was submitted by the Class 2 at Thurleston All Saints Primary School in South Devon to the UK Space Agency's Great British Space Dinner competiton. British ESA astronaut Tim Peake challenged the children of Great Britiain to design a meal for him to eat in space during his mission to the International Space Station in 2015.

This entry was submitted by Ella from Buckinghamshire to the UK Space Agency's Great British Space Dinner competiton. British ESA astronaut Tim Peake challenged the children of Great Britiain to design a meal for him to eat in space during his mission to the International Space Station in 2015.

This entry was submitted by a team from Cider House School in Gloucestershire to the UK Space Agency's Great British Space Dinner competiton. British ESA astronaut Tim Peake challenged the children of Great Britiain to design a meal for him to eat in space during his mission to the International Space Station in 2015.

This entry was submitted by a team from Arboretum Primar School in Derby to the UK Space Agency's Great British Space Dinner competiton. British ESA astronaut Tim Peake challenged the children of Great Britiain to design a meal for him to eat in space during his mission to the International Space Station in 2015.

Tim Peake and Heston Blumenthal met at Heston's kitchens to choose a winner to the UK Space Agency's Great British Space Dinner competition. Tim and Heston selected the winners from more than 500 entries, representing the work of well over 2000 students. They were looking for fun and balanced menus that excited Tim, had an element of Britishness, and the potential to be transformed into a space dinner that could be flown to the ISS. The winners will now be invited to Heston's development kitchens to work with him for the day, developing their ideas further and turning them into real space food that will be launched to the ISS in 2015. A playlist with some of the videos received as part of entries to the competition can be found at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTFSjgb9dAhMJsjs_x2K01DEzkFOwg4aC.

Heston Blumenthal offers some food for thought on the subject of how to design a Great British meal for the British ESA astronaut Tim Peake. How can you eat and drink in space without the effects of gravity to keep food on a plate or liquid in a glass? Jeremy Curtis from the UK Space Agency explains some of the challenges astronauts face, how they overcome them on the International Space Station and what this means for the young people of Great Britain who are designing a meal for the British astronaut Tim Peake to eat during his mission. This is the ninth video from our Great British Space Dinner competition in which children between the ages of 7 and 14 are invited to design a British-inspired, balanced and exciting meal for British ESA astronaut Tim Peake to eat during his 6 month mission to the International Space Station (ISS) next year. The winning entrants will be invited to develop their ideas further with celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal, and these ideas will be turned into real space food that will be launched to the ISS. The competition is accompanied by a set of education resources to support learning, using the context of space to explain nutrition and the importance of good diet. Full details of the competition, including the entry form and rules are available at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/the-great-british-space-dinner

The International Space Station's kitchen is very different to those on earth. Heston Blumenthal considers what it takes to be a master chef in space and what this means for the space chefs who are designing a meal for for the British astronaut Tim Peake to eat during his mission. This is the eighth video from our Great British Space Dinner competition in which children between the ages of 7 and 14 are invited to design a British-inspired, balanced and exciting meal for British ESA astronaut Tim Peake to eat during his 6 month mission to the International Space Station (ISS) next year. The winning entrants will be invited to develop their ideas further with celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal, and these ideas will be turned into real space food that will be launched to the ISS. The competition is accompanied by a set of education resources to support learning, using the context of space to explain nutrition and the importance of good diet. Full details of the competition, including the entry form and rules are available at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/the-great-british-space-dinner

The texture of food plays a really important part in determining how much we like something that we eat. Heston Blumenthal gives food for thought to the young space chefs of Great Britain, who Tim Peake has asked to design a meal for him to eat on the International Space Station. This is the sixth video from our Great British Space Dinner competition in which children between the ages of 7 and 14 are invited to design a British-inspired, balanced and exciting meal for British ESA astronaut Tim Peake to eat during his 6 month mission to the International Space Station (ISS) next year. The winning entrants will be invited to develop their ideas further with celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal, and these ideas will be turned into real space food that will be launched to the ISS. The competition is accompanied by a set of education resources to support learning, using the context of space to explain nutrition and the importance of good diet. Full details of the competition, including the entry form and rules are available at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/the-great-british-space-dinner

What happens to your energy needs when you go into space? Heston Blumenthal looks at what happens to astronauts energy needs, and what that means for the food that they eat in space. This is the fifth video from our Great British Space Dinner competition in which children between the ages of 7 and 14 are invited to design a British-inspired, balanced and exciting meal for British ESA astronaut Tim Peake to eat during his 6 month mission to the International Space Station (ISS) next year. The winning entrants will be invited to develop their ideas further with celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal, and these ideas will be turned into real space food that will be launched to the ISS. The competition is accompanied by a set of education resources to support learning, using the context of space to explain nutrition and the importance of good diet. Full details of the competition, including the entry form and rules are available at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/the-great-british-space-dinner

Astronauts need to have diets that are high in calcium whilst they are in orbit, to help protect their bones and muscles, which get weaker without the effects of gravity to work against them. Heston Blumenthal has some ideas about how we make sure there is a plentiful supply of calcium available on the ISS when British Astronaut Tim Peake is there in 2015/2016. This is the second video from our Great British Space Dinner competition in which children between the ages of 7 and 14 are invited to design a British-inspired, balanced and exciting meal for British ESA astronaut Tim Peake to eat during his 6 month mission to the International Space Station (ISS) next year. The winning entrants will be invited to develop their ideas further with celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal, and these ideas will be turned into real space food that will be launched to the ISS. The competition is accompanied by a set of education resources to support learning, using the context of space to explain nutrition and the importance of good diet. Full details of the competition, including the entry form and rules are available at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/the-great-british-space-dinner

How can you eat and drink in space without the effects of gravity to keep food on a plate or liquid in a glass? Jeremy Curtis from the UK Space Agency explains some of the challenges astronauts face, how they overcome them on the International Space Station and what this means for the young people of Great Britain who are designing a meal for the British astronaut Tim Peake to eat during his mission. This is the seventh video from our Great British Space Dinner competition in which children between the ages of 7 and 14 are invited to design a British-inspired, balanced and exciting meal for British ESA astronaut Tim Peake to eat during his 6 month mission to the International Space Station (ISS) next year. The winning entrants will be invited to develop their ideas further with celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal, and these ideas will be turned into real space food that will be launched to the ISS. The competition is accompanied by a set of education resources to support learning, using the context of space to explain nutrition and the importance of good diet. Full details of the competition, including the entry form and rules are available at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/the-great-british-space-dinner

British astronaut Tim Peake has asked the children of Great Britain to design a menu for him to eat in space, when he heads to the International Space Station in 2015/2016. In this video, he talks to Heston Blumenthal about his favourite food and what it is like to eat in space. This is the third video from our Great British Space Dinner competition in which children between the ages of 7 and 14 are invited to design a British-inspired, balanced and exciting meal for British ESA astronaut Tim Peake to eat during his 6 month mission to the International Space Station (ISS) next year. The winning entrants will be invited to develop their ideas further with celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal, and these ideas will be turned into real space food that will be launched to the ISS. The competition is accompanied by a set of education resources to support learning, using the context of space to explain nutrition and the importance of good diet. Full details of the competition, including the entry form and rules are available at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/the-great-british-space-dinner

The UK Space Agency is inviting children between the ages of 7 and 14 to design a British-inspired, balanced and exciting meal for British ESA astronaut Tim Peake to eat during his 6 month mission to the International Space Station (ISS) next year. The winning entrants will be invited to develop their ideas further with celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal, and these ideas will be turned into real space food that will be launched to the ISS. The competition is accompanied by a set of education resources to support learning, using the context of space to explain nutrition and the importance of good diet. Full details of the competition, including the entry form and rules are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/the-great-british-space-dinner Thanks to the Science Museum for hosting the filming of this video.

Tim Peake needs help to name his inspirational six-month mission into space, the first visit by a British astronaut to the International Space Station. Visit esa.int to make your suggestion! http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/Astronauts/Astronaut_Tim_seeks_mission_name

Airbus Defence and Space in the UK designs and manufactures service modules including propulsion systems, and communications modules including payloads, for Eurostar telecommunications satellites as well as mechanisms, thermal control hardware and electrical subsystems.

British astronaut Tim Peake training at the European Astronaut Centre (EAC), Cologne. Filmed by the BBC.

It's World Space Week #WSW2013 and we've got a Tim Peake treat for all you aspiring astronauts. Sue Nelson from Space Boffins talk to the man behind the mission about training and the business of being an astronaut. If you'd like to hear more Space Boffins interviews, check out the Space Boffins podcasts on the Naked Scientists website.

An overview of the work and contribution of the UK Space Agency to the British space sector.

A new centre dedicated to developing new space technologies and applications has been unveiled by the European Space Agency, ESA. The European Centre for Space Applications and Telecoms, ECSAT, is being built at Harwell, near the UK city of Oxford. Credit: ESA.

The temperature of the Cosmic Microwave Background exhibits fluctuations on a variety of angular scales on the sky. The animation shows six different maps that depict fluctuations at different angular scales and correspond to different regions of the curve. The maps are produced by measuring variations of the temperature of the Cosmic Microwave Background on regions of the sky that are separated by different angles. The power spectrum graph shows the relative strength of fluctuations detected at different angular scales on the sky. The animation shows how the fluctuations at each angular scale correspond to a different portion of the graph. The fluctuations shown here cover the largest angular scales, starting at angles of ninety degrees, shown on the left side of the graph, through to the smallest scales: just a fraction of a degree. For comparison, the diameter of the full Moon in the sky measures about half a degree. Since ordinary matter particles and photons were tightly coupled before the Cosmic Microwave Background was released, the temperature fluctuations in the Cosmic Microwave Background are a snapshot of the distribution of matter in the early Universe. The fluctuations at angular scales larger than a degree (shown in the first three maps) reflect the slightly inhomogeneous distribution of matter on very large scales in the early Universe. If, at the time of decoupling, a photon was in a slightly denser portion of space, it had to spend some of its energy against the gravitational attraction of the denser region to move away from it, thus becoming slightly colder than the average temperature of photons. By contrast, photons that were located in a slightly less dense portion of space lost less energy upon leaving it than other photons, thus appearing slightly hotter than average. At angular scales of about one degree and slightly smaller (shown in the fourth and fifth maps), the graph shows the imprint and oscillation pattern of sound waves that were present in the fluid of ordinary matter and photons in the early Universe. The interplay between gravity, which pulled together the fluid of matter and radiation, and the radiation pressure of the photons, which pushed it away, caused a series of rhythmical compressions and rarefactions everywhere in the fluid. At scales smaller than about one tenth of a degree (shown in the sixth map) the oscillating pattern is being damped: this is due to diffusion of photons during their decoupling from matter, which was not an instantaneous process but lasted a few tens of thousands of years. During this time, collisions between photons and other particles were still occurring, although not as frequently as in the previous cosmic epochs: these collisions scattered photons in different directions, damping the imprint of fluctuations on the smallest scales. Credits: ESA and the Planck Collaboration.