Heritage Lecture

19.30 – 21.00

To coincide with his latest exhibition, bestselling author and NASA digital restoration expert Andy Saunders returns to Jodrell Bank to share the untold story of humanity’s first ventures into space and the extraordinary images that captured them.

Before Neil Armstrong’s famous “one giant leap,” there were countless smaller, vital steps that paved the way to the Moon. From the pioneering Project Mercury flights to the Gemini missions of the mid-1960s, astronauts pushed the boundaries of possibility, answering fundamental questions about space travel and laying the groundwork for the Apollo programme.

But these missions didn’t just test technology — they also produced some of the most remarkable and rarely seen photographs in space history.

In this special Heritage Lecture, Andy will outline the cutting-edge enhancement techniques he used on scans of the original film to create the highest quality images ever produced from these missions, bringing them to life in unprecedented detail.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to learn about the human stories behind the missions, and discover how these early spaceflights shaped the triumphs that followed.

Andy will be signing copies of Gemini and Mercury Remastered after the talk.

Guests joining us in person also have the option to book a pre-lecture meal at our fantastic First Light Café, choosing from the options below:

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Pie, Mash, Peas & Gravy £12.95

• • Cheese & Onion – Packed with gooey mature cheddar cheese, sautéed onions, and potato (v, halal) 2022 SILVER: The British Pie Awards.
  • Steak & Stout Flank Steak – bathed in Guinness stout for 24 hours, braised and slow-cooked with carrots, garlic, onions, bay leaf, and thyme, with a rich stout gravy.
  • Aloo Saag Spinach & Sweet Potato – cooked in our own blend of spices with a spicy tomato curry sauce (v, vegan, halal).

The café will be open from 18:00 – 19:15 with the last sitting at 18:50.