ESA Astronaut Tim Peake Opens Space Park Leicester Innovation Hub

Space Park Leicester, a space research and innovation centre, was officially opened on 14th March. The ceremony was attended by the first UK Space Agency astronaut for the ESA, Tim Peake. Additional guests included 60 Leicester schoolchildren, the facility management, as well as local authorities and community representatives.

Space Park Leicester Project Importance

During the next decade, Space Park Leicester should create 2500+ new job opportunities in the Midlands, boosting the UK space sector and the local economy. According to the UK Space Agency estimates, the facility should annually generate £750 million for the space industry.

Space Park Leicester is a 9,700m₂ building that should act as a research and inspiration base for local and international partners. The UK Space Agency believes that projects developed under the University of Leicester, with its 60+ years of history in the space research niche, should place the facility at the forefront of the UK space industry.

Space Park Leicester Authorities on the Project

Space Park Leicester Executive Director Prof. Richard Ambrosi says that the facility management is excited to officially open the advanced research and innovation centre. The project’s goal is to host professional university research and advanced tech businesses, thus ensuring further growth for the UK space sector. He adds that even though space may seem a remote and rather abstract notion here on Earth, most of our daily activities, from communication to finance, rely on space tech.

Space Park Leicester will pay attention to several projects, including a joint ESA-UK Space Agency Mars return mission scheduled for 2026. Besides, many workshops will be dedicated to studying Artificial Intelligence, Earth Observation, and creating drones. With the support of ESA and the UK Space Agency, Space Park Leicester should become one of the most promising space innovation projects in Great Britain.