The UK s new National Space Centre

The National Space Centre (NSC) was opened in June 2001 and is a £52M (75M) science-based visitor attraction and education facility with the mission `to promote a wider understanding of space science and technology, and demonstrate its relevance to life on Earth in the 21s t Century'. It is located in the city of Leicester, lying close to the geographical heart of the UK and with 9 million people within a 90 minute drive. The NSC was funded by the Millennium Commission in partnership with the University of Leicester and Leicester City Council, with support from BT, ESA and others. Its main components are an Exhibition, Space Theatre and Challenger Learning Centre. The CLC is the only one operating outside North America and it has been the stimulus for the new "Classroom Space" project which makes data from real space missions available for use in schools, with appropriate support for teachers. Recently the NSC has become the host for the UK's Near Earth Object Information Centre, and it will act as the Operations Centre for the Faulkes (2m class) robotic telescopes to be located in Maui and Siding Springs, providing a unique educational facility for 12-18 year old school students. The first successful year of operation of the NSC will be reported and plans for future national and international development outlined.