Destination Space | Festival of Engineering

These telescopes have to work reliably in a vacuum and far away from any human support, taking images of distant galaxies and planets on our doorstep for many years at a time. Come along and meet the team of engineers who make this happen! You can also drive our very own miniature Mars rover and learn about how the ‘eyes’ of the rover were designed and built at UCL, and how these eyes have to be able to work in the extreme cold on the surface of the red planet. Ultimately, helping answer the question of whether life has ever existed on Mars. The real Mars rover will be launched in 2028.

Space engineering is a world-wide collaborative effort, and you can also find out how we work with organisations such as NASA, the European Space Agency and the Japanese Space Agency to explore our Universe. 

What is the Festival of Engineering?

This event is part of our week-long summer festival showcasing how engineers are continuing to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing humanity. Find out more about the Festival of Engineering and see what else is on. 

Join us this July!

For details of where to go, what to bring, how to book and what to expect at the Festival of Engineering, take a look at the Plan Your Visit page.