Visitors to Aerospace Bristol will have the chance to see the incredible Mars sculpture on display alongside the last Concorde ever to fly, and learn about the European Space Agency’s Mars Express mission to the Red Planet.
Aerospace Bristol has announced that the museum will host Luke Jerram’s Mars as part of a new Journey to Mars exhibition. From Friday 4 May to Monday 5 June, the artwork will be stunningly displayed alongside the last Concorde ever to fly.
The temporary exhibition marks the 20th anniversary of Mars Express, Europe’s first mission to Mars, with models of the Mars Express Orbiter and the Beagle 2 lander on display alongside Luke Jerram’s Mars sculpture.
Measuring seven metres in diameter, Mars features detailed NASA imagery of the Martian surface. At an approximate scale of 1:1 million, each centimetre of the internally lit spherical sculpture represents 10 kilometres of the surface of Mars.
Visitors will have the chance to view Mars from the air, as though they are a satellite, mapping and studying the surface in perfect detail, with every valley, crater, volcano and mountain laid bare to inspect.
Alongside Mars, the exhibition will feature a model of the Mars Express Orbiter and a full-scale model of Beagle 2, the UK-built, Mars lander, that was successfully deployed from Mars Express in 2003. Led by Bristol born scientist, Colin Pillinger, the Beagle 2 was intended to carry out an astrobiology mission that would have looked for evidence of life on Mars.
Amy Seadon, Head of Collections, Learning and Interpretation at Aerospace Bristol, said, “Aerospace Bristol can’t wait to mark the 20th anniversary of Mars Express and highlight Bristol’s important contribution to the European Space Agency’s first ever planetary mission. It’s a fascinating story, the Mars artwork is going to look incredible alongside Concorde, and I think visitors will love exploring the surface of Mars as if they were looking down at the planet from the Mars Express Orbiter!”
Artist Luke Jerram added, “Mars follows on from my other touring astronomical artworks Museum of the Moon and Gaia, and allows a close encounter with the Martian planet. I hope that visitors will feel transported to its inhospitable desert wasteland and in comparison, really value our life on Earth.”
Alongside Journey to Mars, Aerospace Bristol has also announced a packed spring programme of events and activities, including Mother’s Day lunch under Concorde, a new Red Arrows simulator arriving in time for the Easter holidays, the chance to meet a Red Arrows pilot and a Father’s Day Car Show.
Mother’s Day Lunch under Concorde | Sunday 19 March
Join Aerospace Bristol on Sunday 19th March, for Lunch under Concorde. Enjoy access to all of the museum, have a fantastic family day out alongside your lunch, and explore 100 years of aviation history.
Red Arrows Easter | 1-16 April
Get ready for an Easter of Red Arrows themed fun at Aerospace Bristol, as the museum introduces its new Red Arrows Experience. You can fly with the Red Arrows in the museum’s new simulator, meet a former Red Arrows Pilot on 3-5 April and younger visitors can pilot their own pedal planes.
Journey to Mars | 4 May – 5 June
Discover Mars – a touring artwork by UK artist Luke Jerram – alongside the iconic Concorde at Aerospace Bristol. The artwork is the centrepiece of the Journey to Mars exhibition, which tells the story of the Mars Express mission. The artwork allows us to view Mars from the air, with every valley, crater, volcano and mountain laid bare to inspect.
Father’s Day Car Show | Sunday 18 June
Aerospace Bristol’s annual car show is back and bigger than ever! Visit the museum on Sunday 18th June to discover a range of Bristol cars, BMWs, Aston Martins, and more. Entry to the car show is included with museum admission, which also includes the chance to step aboard the last Concorde ever to fly and journey through a century of Bristol’s aerospace history.
To find out more visit aerospacebristol.org.