This exhibition examines the impact space exploration has had on everyday life, especially futuristic design and the fantasy worlds created for children and adults alike.

Space exploration

People have always been fascinated by the stars and what lies beyond their known world. Since ancient times, people have used astronomy to try to understand and make sense of their place in the cosmos. Early civilisations all over the world, such as the Babylonians from about 1800 BC in Mesopotamia (modern Iraq), observed and accurately mapped the stars and planets. Theorists and writers have hypothesised about the possibility of people travelling into space for centuries. This dream was finally achieved on 12th April 1961 when the Soviet cosmonaut, Yuri Gagarin, entered Earth’s orbit in the Vostok 1 spacecraft.

Fantasy

Space fantasy has a long history in literature, with stories dating back centuries. Classic books such as H. G. Wells’ War of the Worlds’ (1898) brought these ideas to the attention of a wider audience. With the public’s imagination sparked, space fantasy began to appear in comics, film and television.

Our fascination with science fiction has played an important role in our physical realisation of reaching space. Jules Verne’s book ‘From the Earth to the Moon’ (1865) inspired pioneers of space travel, such as Robert Goddard (1882-1945), the inventor of modern rocketry. Ideas of space fantasy also inspired the production of highly imaginative toys for children, long before space travel was actually achieved.

In the home

The excitement of the space race during the 1950s and 1960s inspired a new generation of design. People were optimistic about the future and embraced futuristic design with enthusiasm. Designers used new materials and changes in mass production, to meet demands fuelled by the emerging consumer society. Household items mirrored space shapes such as satellites, rockets and space helmets. Space-related motifs appeared on fabrics, wallpaper and decorated children’s bedrooms. To be able to travel easily into space, designs had to be compact and lightweight. These ideas filtered into everyday life, with design aimed at saving time and space around the home. It was seen as ‘space age’ living.

Fashion

Fashion designers embraced the future and celebrated space achievements and aspirations in their designs. The optimism of the 1960s encouraged experimentation and creativity in design and textiles. Designers, such as Paco Rabanne, Pierre Cardin and André Courrèges, created the space age look. A common feature was the use of technology such as new synthetic materials, metals and plastics. Accessories included visors, large aviator sunglasses and monograms. Colour palettes that were used to invoke the look of space included white, silver and blues.

High fashion at this time bears a striking similarity to the clothing worn in science fiction television programmes, like Star Trek. Children’s fashion followed the same influences. Dressing up clothes for children and adults also reflected space heroes as a popular theme.

Technology

The exploration of space is very demanding. Success requires the invention of new technologies to do new things and the improvement of old technologies to make them smaller, lighter and more efficient. This requires extensive scientific research and technical development.

After their use in space programmes, these new and improved technologies can be used to enhance our life on Earth in many ways. For example, spacesuits require systems to keep astronauts alive and comfortable while protecting them from the space environment. This technology has led to therapeutic heating and cooling suits for people suffering from different sicknesses and new materials for lighter-than-air craft.

New materials developed for space use find their way into many things – medical equipment, sports gear, helicopters, car brake linings, while air and water purification and measurement systems for use on spacecraft have been adapted for use for individuals, groups and towns.

Registration required:

No

Free:

Yes