Image: Libby Jackson, Head of Space, Science Museum © UK Space Agency
The new appointment will assist the museum in its space-related acquisitions, and contribute to its online video output
A UK spaceflight expert has been appointed by London’s Science Museum as its first ‘Head of Space’.
Libby Jackson will assist in the museum’s enhanced space-related public engagement activities, including online content, and will support its curators to acquire new space technologies for the national collection.
Jackson joins the Science Museum from the UK Space Agency, where she was Head of Space Exploration. Shepreviously led the education and outreach programme for British ESA astronaut Tim Peake’s Principia mission to the International Space Station.
Prior to that Jackson worked in Mission Control as Flight Controller and then Flight Director of the Columbus Module, the European Space Agency’s laboratory on the International Space Station.
Jackson, Head of Space at the Science Museum said the museum’s space gallery “has been a touchstone through my life, from my earliest visits as a child and lunch breaks as an Imperial College student to celebrating Tim Peake’s launch with thousands of school children and family visits”.
“So I am beyond thrilled to be joining this phenomenal institution and supporting the amazing and dedicated team in delivering inspiration for visitors.”
ESA astronaut Tim Peake said the new appointment had “brilliantly led the public engagement programme” around his mission to space.
“[O]n launch day she was at the Science Museum talking to thousands of excited visitors as I blasted off from Baikonur Cosmodrome in a Soyuz capsule that is now on display at the museum.”
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