ASTRONAUT Michael Foale has officially launched Explorer:Space at Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium – the ultimate space adventure for this summer holiday.

Explorer:Space is a new 600m2 immersive space zone that takes families on an epic adventure through the universe, featuring amazing hands-on exhibits from meteorites to stardust, robots to coding and atmospheric pressure to human space flight.

Dr Michael Foale CBE is the most experienced British-born astronaut in the history of human spaceflight and is famous for rescuing the Russian spacestation, Mir, in 1997 after it was hit by a cargo ship. He did a special presentation to hundreds of school children across Hampshire before unveiling Explorer:Space in front of invited guests and doing ‘An Evening with’ talk in the planetarium.

Ben Ward, CEO of Winchester Science Centre said: “Explorer:Space is permanent brand new addition for the Science Centre, designed to wow families and ignite their curiosity in space. We’ve never had an exhibition like this before – this impressive intergalactic set takes up the entire ground floor of the Science Centre and represents the biggest investment we’ve made since the opening of our planetarium in 2008.”

There are Explorer:Space activities taking place at the Science Centre throughout the summer school holiday, including a new live science show called Destination Space. To find out more and book tickets visit: www.winchestersciencecentre.org