DID you know that this week is:- 'World Space Week' and as a result we are looking at Liverpool's hidden connection to the Space Industry.
 
As the UK gets ready for a historic launch into space, if you like all things space, did you know Liverpool's World Museum has part of our nation's space heritage and has placed the other half on loan to Leicester's National Space Centre?
 
The item in question is a very special rocket, the British built:- Black Arrow rocket, which holds 1 of the most important positions in international aerospace history.
 
Developed during the late 1960s, Black Arrow achieved what only 6 other nations in history have ever accomplished independently: successfully placing a home grown satellite into Earth orbit.
 
On 28 October 1971, the rocket launched the Prospero satellite from the:- Woomera Range Complex, located in:- South Australia.
 
Despite this historic triumph, the UK holds the paradoxical distinction of being the only country to cancel its sovereign satellite launch programme immediately after achieving success!
 
The surviving rocket artefacts cared for by:- National Museums Liverpool and on loan to Leicester remain enduring symbols of Britain's early cosmic ambitions.
 
That abrupt cancellation in:- 1971 is 1 of the main reasons the UK has rarely received the public credit it deserves for its massive contributions to the space sector. While global headlines focused on the Cold War Moon Race between the:- United States and the Soviet Union, British engineering quietly shifted focus towards spacecraft manufacturing and satellite technology.
 
Today, UK firms dominate the modern commercial satellite market, manufacturing:- 1 in every 4 telecommunications satellites operating in orbit today. From pioneering small satellites to complex payload systems and orbital data processing, British companies continue to lead the world in spacecraft technology, demonstrating that Britain never left the space race; it simply changed how it operated.
 
Now, Britain is bringing orbital capabilities back to home soil, creating transformative opportunities for the UK economy and the scientific community. Emerging sites across Scotland, including:- Spaceport Sutherland and SaxaVord Spaceport on the Isle of Unst in Shetland, are establishing Britain as Europe's central destination for commercial launch operations. Hosting launch sites within the UK creates thousands of high skilled engineering jobs, attracts millions of pounds in global investment, and provides sovereign access to space. For research institutions and universities, local launches mean:- faster, cheaper, and direct access to orbit for:- microgravity experiments, environmental monitoring payloads, and novel technology demonstrations.
 
This modern space revolution is highlighted by an upcoming launch campaign taking place in October 2026. German rocket manufacturer HyImpulse is preparing to execute the 2nd flight of its SR75 suborbital rocket, which will take place from:- Launch Pad 3 (LP3) at the SaxaVord Spaceport, on the:- Isle of Unst. Official maritime and aviation danger notices issued by air navigation authorities outline a designated launch window running from:- 5 October 2026 to 18 October 2026, with active daily operational blocks scheduled between:- 07:00 and 12:00 UTC. Because SaxaVord recently paused its plans to build a universal suborbital launch rail, HyImpulse is shipping and assembling its own custom mobile launch infrastructure directly onto the Shetland pad for this mission.
 
The scheduling of this campaign carries immense historic significance. Exactly 55 years after the:- 28 October 1971 Black Arrow mission, rocket operations are once again powering up in October. However, while the historic:- 1971 lift off had to be conducted halfway across the world in Australia, the upcoming flight at SaxaVord represents 1 of the 1st modern vertical rocket launches taking place directly from UK soil, ensuring that Britain's vital role in space history is finally getting the recognition it deserves.
 
Many do not realise that the Liverpool City Region has a huge connection to the space industry that doesn't often get publicised.
 
Today, if you are unaware, Liverpool acts as 1 of the primary keepers of British space history. Most of this is focused on Liverpool's World Museum, maintaining our nation's historic aerospace artefacts and sharing collections through active loans with Leicester's National Space Centre.
 
Plus, on an astronomical side, many do not realise that the World Museum's Liverpool Planetarium, which was opened in:- 1970, remains 1 of the longest operating planetariums in the UK. Currently, the planetarium delivers live astronomy presentations to over:- 100,000 visitors to the free to visit museum annually.
 
Moving away from history, today, the Liverpool City Region forms 1 of the core operational hubs of the North West Space Cluster, collaborating under the Space North framework!
 
This core operational hubs of the North West Space Cluster, collaborating under the Space North framework!
 
This cluster connects regional businesses, universities, and research facilities across the North West of England to drive innovation in:- satellite communications, advanced manufacturing, cyber resilience, and autonomous systems.
 
Local tech companies in the Liverpool area contribute to:- spacecraft payload assembly, advanced materials, and data infrastructure support for UK satellite operations.
 
When it comes to world leading astrophysics, Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), through its Astrophysics Research Institute, plays 1 of the most influential roles in global robotic astronomy.
Also, did you know Liverpool John Moores University owns and operates a:- 2.0 metre fully robotic optical telescope that is located at the world famous:- Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos, in La Palma?
This telescope was designed and built within the Liverpool Region, and it responds autonomously to cosmic events within minutes without human intervention on site.
 
Not only that, but LJMU is leading an international project to build a 4.0 metre autonomous telescope. The New Robotic Telescope (NRT) will become the largest and fastest autonomous optical telescope on Earth.
 
That is not forgetting that the Schools' Observatory is headquartered at LJMU. This unique national educational programme allows pupils across thousands of UK schools to control professional astronomical equipment remotely and conduct real scientific investigations!
 
If you are looking for something different to do that is both fun and educational this half term, we strongly recommend you visit Liverpool's World Museum. To find out more about the museum, check out:- LiverpoolMuseums.Org.UK, and discover more about our Region's world leading contributions to world history and science for free.