Living in space: How Leicester is shaping human futures beyond Earth

When we picture living in space, images of astronauts floating in orbit, futuristic domes on the Moon, or bustling colonies on Mars often spring to mind. But living in space is not just about rockets or habitats on distant worlds. It is about how humans adapt, govern, build societies, use resources and even express culture, and how the lessons we learn beyond Earth can help us live more sustainably and fairly here at home.

Leicester is playing a unique role in shaping this future. Across Space Park Leicester, the Institute for Space, and the Leverhulme Centre for Humanity and Space, researchers, industry partners, policymakers, artists and communities are working together to explore not only the technologies that make space exploration possible, but also the human and societal dimensions that make it meaningful. This reflects the University of Leicester’s ethos of being Citizens of Change, committed to research and innovation that improve lives on Earth while opening new horizons beyond it.

Since opening in 2022, Space Park Leicester (SPL) has become a national hub where academia, industry and policy converge. Backed by £100 million, it hosts state-of-the-art labs, cleanrooms, testing facilities and collaborative design spaces that support the full cycle of spacecraft and space technology development. But SPL is more than an engineering powerhouse. It is a place where innovations for orbit are translated into solutions for Earth, from climate monitoring and sustainable agriculture to healthcare and education. A defining strength is its integration with the University of Leicester’s talent pipeline: students and researchers work alongside global companies and start-ups, ensuring that education feeds directly into innovation. This dynamic ecosystem supports the UK’s National Space Strategy, accelerates new ventures and positions the UK as a leader in space commercialisation.

At the heart of Leicester’s vision is the Institute for Space, uniting technical expertise in engineering and astrophysics with insights from law, business, social sciences and the humanities. Its Space for Society theme captures a broader mission: space is not only a technological frontier but also a societal one. Satellites underpin communications and climate monitoring, questions of governance and equity are urgent, and cultural ideas about space influence how people imagine our future. The Institute ensures that Leicester’s research drives scientific progress while supporting sustainability, resilience and inclusivity on Earth, preparing society through education, policy and cultural engagement for a future where living and working in space is a reality.

The (£10m) Leverhulme Centre for Humanity and Space complements this work by exploring the cultural and philosophical dimensions of human expansion beyond Earth. How do we govern new worlds fairly? How do we live sustainably in radically different environments? By supporting PhDs, fellowships and collaborations with partners from the UK Space Agency to the British Library, the Centre embeds Leicester in global debates on the ethics and meaning of space, ensuring the UK contributes not only to technology but also to shaping the values of humanity’s future in orbit and beyond.

Leicester also pioneers the human and creative aspects of space. SPL invites artists to explore how we imagine and give meaning to life beyond Earth. Michelle Reader’s For Harmony and Wonder, crafted from lab waste and unveiled on Earth Day, highlights how space innovation can inspire sustainable living on our planet. Matt Turner’s World Space Week 2-24 exhibition showcased visionary designs like his award-winning Martian Vacuum Airship, connecting technical progress with imagination and hands-on engagement. These projects show that SPL is not just a centre of research and innovation, but a cultural meeting place where science, creativity and community intersect.

Together, these initiatives embody Leicester’s identity as a university of Citizens of Change, demonstrating that space is more than an industry or frontier. It is an enabler of transformation, creating bold futures beyond Earth while ensuring innovation serves people and planet here at home.

Reflecting on the current World Space Week 2025, Leicester’s institutions are set to play a vital role in shaping not only how we live in space but also how we live more sustainably and equitably on Earth. Satellites that track climate change, innovations that support food security and new ways of thinking about governance and cooperation all show how space is a driver of transformation across society. In Leicester, the journey of living in space begins at the intersection of science, society and imagination, but its impact reaches directly into the delivery of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Space is inherently transversal: it underpins progress on climate action, health, education, peace and partnerships, making it a powerful enabler of the Sustainable Development Goals. Here, space is not only an industry or a frontier, it is a catalyst for building bold futures beyond Earth while ensuring that knowledge and innovation create meaningful change for people and planet today.