A beautiful art sculpture of Mars is returning to Bristol to coincide with the 20th anniversary of Europe's first mission to the red planet. The temporary exhibition will be centred around Luke Jerram's touring artwork 'Mars', by the Bristol-based artist who also created other space-themed installations like 'Museum of the Moon', 'Gaia' and 'Floating Earth'.
Aerospace Bristol will host the artwork as part of its new Journey to Mars exhibition. From Friday, May 4 to Monday, June 5, displayed alongside the last Concorde to ever take flight. The beautiful installation - which measures around 7m in diameter and features detailed NASA imagery of the Martian surface - is a piece that has toured all over the world and was last exhibited in Bristol back in 2021.
Artist Luke Jerram said: "It's great to be able to present Mars as part of this important anniversary. Public interest in Mars is growing each year as there are more and more space missions there. I hope the public enjoys finding out about Mars and through my artwork feels transported to the surface of this extraordinary planet."
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'Mars' will also include models of the Mars Express Orbiter and the Beagle 2 lander, 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!”
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. The Bristol exhibition is from May 4 to June 5.
Adult tickets are £19.50, £12 for children between ages 4-17 and £18 for seniors and students. Note that tickets to Aerospace Bristol are valid for free return visits for 12 months after they are first used. Family bundles are also available.
Take a look at the full list of exhibits at Aerospace Bristol on its website, including a Mother's Day lunch under Concorde and a Red Arrows experience over the Easter break.
Aerospace Bristol, Hayes Way, Patchway, Bristol, BS34 5BZ. Journey to Mars is from May 4 - June 5. Tickets at varied prices (valid for unlimited return for 12 months) available online. https://aerospacebristol.org/
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