Thinktank is offering the public an opportunity to share in the wonder of the next giant leap for humankind in space with an expert talk on the forthcoming crewed flight of Artemis 2 to the Moon.

After much anticipation, NASA’s Artemis 2 mission is scheduled to return humans to orbit the Moon in the spring of this year, with the earliest launch date window from 6th to 11th February. To celebrate this landmark mission, Thinktank is hosting a talk by Dr Michael Warner - owner and curator of the Space Vault Exhibition.

The hour-long presentation and Q&A session will be held inside the Space Vault Exhibition gallery, with the audience surrounded by objects brought back to Earth from the Apollo missions, including from the 1968 flight of Apollo 8. Apollo 8 was the audacious, first-ever, voyage by humans to lunar orbit, catapulting the USA ahead of the Soviets in the space race and playing a key role in the environmental movement by generating the iconic "Earthrise" photograph.

Described by Dr Warner in the talk will be the Artemis 2 flight plan, mission objectives and roles of the astronauts. In addition, the audience will see image montages from the far side of the Moon, showing what Commander Reid Wiseman and his team of four will describe to billions of Earthlings as their craft flies the farthest distance into space that humans have ever been.

Dr Michael Warner, “I am delighted that the Birmingham Museum Trust are supporting this event to celebrate the forthcoming Artemis 2 mission. The talk will offer people in Birmingham a chance to share in the wonder of this next giant leap for humankind in the exploration of our vast solar system.”

Visitors to the Birmingham Thinktank can tour the Space Vault Exhibition during regular opening times as part of general admission to the museum. For opening times visit: https://www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/thinktank.