Dog spacesuit goes on display

The Rocket Tower at the National Space Centre in Leicester is lifting off to new heights, showcasing a host of cosmic treasures, including this canine high-altitude partial pressure suit which was used in sub-orbital biological research flights. Can't say I'd have wanted to be a dog in that outfit! Here's a pic of a dog that actually went up in the suit. Poor thing.

At the moment the dog spacesuit is being kept in a special storage unit until the exhibition's opening day on 17th July. Also on display are rockets and Moon rock from the Apollo missions. Plus, I can have a go at piloting a simulator spacecraft back down to Earth. My astronaut dreams could come true - in the virtual world anyway.