A new space flight museum has opened at Grizedale Observatory and Planetarium in the Lake District of England. The museum, named the John Dulcamara Space Flight Museum, was officially opened on Friday by Helen Sharman, Britain's first astronaut. Sharman, who traveled to space in 1991 as part of a mission to the Mir Space Station, praised the collection as "extraordinary." The museum's artifacts were donated by private collector John Dulcamara, who has spent 30 years gathering space-related items. The museum features a variety of historical items, including a piece of the command module from the 1969 Apollo 11 mission—the first mission to land humans on the moon. Other exhibits include autographed photos and signatures from notable figures in space exploration, as well as parts of actual spacecraft from both American and Russian space programs. The collection offers a glimpse into the history of space travel and the personal stories of the astronauts who made it possible. Grizedale Observatory, which opened in May 2024, is a public facility near Ambleside, Cumbria. It offers access to telescopes, a planetarium, and a meteorite laboratory, and hosts events such as the dark skies festival. The observatory is now home to the new museum, which director Gary Fildes called a "coup for Cumbria." He noted that the museum provides an opportunity for the public to experience space history in a unique and accessible way. John Dulcamara said his passion for collecting began when he attended a space shuttle launch in 1996 and kept the ticket. Since then, he has amassed thousands of space-related artifacts, which he now hopes will inspire visitors. During her visit, Sharman met with local schoolchildren to share her experiences aboard the Mir Space Station, where she conducted scientific research and observed Earth from orbit. Fildes emphasized the importance of this interaction, saying that such experiences could inspire future generations to pursue careers in science and space exploration.