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Design a Space Patch for a First Real In-Orbit Test Mission

Good News Post

Apr 18, 2025 — 1 min read

L-R: Artist impression of the Going Rogue mission, with the ION satellite and Rogue thruster (left) © DOrbit; Set of 12 mission patches from the Apollo missions to the Moon. Image supplied © Science Museum Group.

By Joel ,16, Jill Dando News Correspondent

The Science Museum and UK space company Magdrive are running a competition for children to design a mission patch for Magdrive’s first space test!

The winning patch will be used on the Going Rogue mission and shown in the museum’s new Space gallery, opening this autumn.

It will be added to the museum’s amazing space collection, which already includes Tim Peake’s spacecraft, real rocket engines, and patches from NASA missions.

The winner will also visit Magdrive’s lab to see how the thruster is built—and see their patch on display at the museum!

Magdrive’s new Rogue thruster helps satellites move around in space using metal fuel and plasma (super-hot gas). The mission will launch this summer and test the thruster on a real satellite for six months.

With so many satellites in space, better movement helps avoid crashes and keeps space safe.

The competition is open now until 6 May 2025. You can enter by picking up a form at the Science Museum during the Easter holidays. There’s also a free drop-in design session on Tuesday 15 April, 11:00–15:00, where you can create your patch with help from a museum expert.

Learn more at sciencemuseum.org.uk/space-competition.

Designs will be judged on creativity, space themes, and how well they match the mission. The judging panel includes a Magdrive expert and three people from the Science Museum.

Libby Jackson, Head of Space at the museum, said: “Mission patches have been part of space travel for years. I hope this inspires kids to look up at the night sky and dream big!”

Dr Thomas Clayson from Magdrive added: “The Science Museum inspired me to work in science. Now, we get to inspire the next generation!”

Your patch could join the history of space missions—right alongside the famous Apollo patches. So, grab your pencils and get designing!

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