The Soyuz 7K OK(A) Spacecraft

The Soyuz 7K OK(A) Spacecraft on display at The National Space Centre Leicester, a photo by Melodysparks (Chris Preedy) on Flickr.

On display at The National Space Centre Leicester is the only known Soyuz spacecraft in Western Europe

Soyuz translated means Union and is a series of spacecraft initially designed for the Soviet space programme by the Korolyov Design Bureau in the 1960s, and still in service today. The Soyuz succeeded the Voskhod spacecraft and was originally built as part of the Soviet Manned Lunar programme.

The Soyuz spacecraft is launched by the Soyuz rocket, the most frequently used and most reliable Russian launch vehicle to date. The Soyuz rocket design is based on the Vostok launcher, which in turn was based on the 8K74 or R-7A Semyorka, a Soviet intercontinental ballistic missile. Soyuz spacecraft are launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.


this reminds me of Starbug from Red Dwarf

From London to Leicester via...Space

Olympic Union Flag and Space Shuttle Atlantis Flight Crew, a photo by Melodysparks (Chris Preedy) on Flickr.

Olympic Union Flag and Space Shuttle Atlantis Flight Crew

The Union Flag flown aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis in May 2010 to the International Space Station to celebrate London Hosting the Olympic Games

Rocket Tower National Space Centre

Rocket Tower, a photo by Melodysparks (Chris Preedy) on Flickr.

The information boards about the tower says

The National Space Centre Rocket Tower houses the large artifacts - but it's also a space age sensation in itself. At 42 metres high, the tower is a landmark on the Leicester skyline. The futuristic chrysalis-like structure was designed by London archetect - Nicholas Grimshaw & Partners

The transparant skin of the tower is made of Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene (ETfE) three layers of ETfE are sandwiched between steel girdersand then inflated with air. Silver dots are printed on the ETfE to reflect sunlight

Q. How are the rockets put in?
A. The front of the Rocket Tower can be 'unzipped' to get the rockets in and out. The ETfE skin can be detatched and the bottom six girders removed, leaving a 'door' 21 metres high and 6 metres wide.

Q. How is the Rocket Tower air-conditioned?
A. The Tower is heated by huge radiators which look rather like solar panels. In summer, louvered vents open at the top to cool things down. The vents close themselves automatically at the first sign of rain

Cosmonaut - National Space Centre