Today the Science Museum announced the appointment of Libby Jackson as its first Head of Space.
© UK Space Agency
Jackson, one of the UK’s leading experts in human spaceflight, will play a key role in the museum’s space-related public engagement activities while supporting the museum’s curators to acquire new space technologies for the national collection and deepening the museum’s relationships with space agencies around the globe.
Enhanced space-themed public engagement activities for the museum’s visitors will be developed once Jackson starts, with these likely to include events, new activities for schools and digital content on the museum’s website, YouTube channel, and on Wonderlab+, the Science Museum Group’s free website for families. Jackson will also support the museum’s curatorial team to make significant additions to the national collection, ensuring important international efforts in space exploration are better represented in the Science Museum Group Collection and in future displays in the museum.
Jackson joins the Science Museum from the UK Space Agency, where she was Head of Space Exploration and previously 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.
Libby Jackson, Head of Space at the Science Museum said: ‘Space ignites an interest in science and technology in many people, including me. The Science 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.’
Sir Ian Blatchford, Director and Chief Executive of the Science Museum Group said: ‘I am thrilled to welcome Libby to the Science Museum, where she will play a vital part in helping us achieve our space ambitions. Libby joins at an exciting time as we prepare to open a new Space gallery this autumn, and I have no doubt her expertise, strong connections with space agencies around the world and deep public engagement experience will enable us to do even more to fuel visitors’ fascination with space.’
ESA astronaut Tim Peake said: ‘Libby brilliantly led the public engagement programme around my mission to space and on 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. With their shared love of inspiring people to get involved in science and technology, Libby and the Science Museum are made for each other.’
The new Space gallery will open in autumn 2025 in the museum’s West Hall and will bring together remarkable objects that celebrate the first space age and the future of space exploration. Space will invite visitors to discover inspiring stories of exploration while offering a new perspective on significant space objects. In a world first, two human flown spacecraft (Apollo 10 Command Module and Soyuz descent module) will be displayed alongside one another, with visitors able to examine the differences between the actual spacecraft which orbited the Moon in 1969 and travelled to the International Space Station in 2015.
The museum’s existing Exploring Space gallery will close this summer after welcoming tens of millions of visitors over almost four decades as part of preparations for the new gallery. Before the new gallery opens, visitors can join space-themed volunteer-led tours, take part in free and fun interactive space shows led by the museum’s Explainers, watch A Beautiful Planet and Apollo 11: First Steps in IMAX: The Ronson Theatre and see other remarkable space objects on display around the museum as part of a self-guided tour.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
For further information and interview requests, please contact Will Dave on william.dave@sciencemuseum.ac.uk. Images are available to download via https://we.tl/t-Xmm9MJ7ewF.
Libby Jackson biography
Libby Jackson OBE was previously the UK Space Agency’s Head of Space Exploration, responsible for delivering the UK’s activities in both human and robotic missions that explore Low Earth Orbit, Moon and Mars. Jackson is one of Britain’s leading experts in human spaceflight, having spent nearly two decades working at the forefront of the field in mission control and management roles, including overseeing the hugely successful education programme for Tim Peake’s mission to the International Space Station. Jackson has had a life-long interest in space exploration. After graduating with a BSc in Physics from Imperial College and a Master’s degree in Astronautics and Space Engineering from Cranfield University, Jackson worked for Airbus Defence and Space in satellite operations. Prior to her time at the UK Space Agency, Jackson worked in Mission Control as a flight controller and then Flight Director for the Columbus module, Europe’s laboratory on the ISS. Jackson was awarded an OBE in the 2023 New Year’s Honours list for her services to the Space Sector, and an Honorary Doctorate of Science from the University of Kent in 2021.
About the Science Museum
The Science Museum is part of the Science Museum Group, the world’s leading group of science museums that share a world-class collection providing an enduring record of scientific, technological and medical achievements from across the globe. Over the last century the Science Museum has grown in scale and scope, inspiring visitors with exhibitions covering topics as diverse as robots, codebreaking, cosmonauts and superbugs. The Science Museum was named a winner of the prestigious Art Fund Museum of the Year prize for 2020. www.sciencemuseum.org.uk. Follow on X, Facebook and Instagram.
About Discover South Kensington
Discover South Kensington brings together the Science Museum and other leading cultural and educational organisations to promote innovation and learning. South Kensington is the home of science, arts and inspiration. Discovery is at the core of what happens here and there is so much to explore every day. www.discoversouthken.com.
