Durham University CN2i and Beamish Museum Jointly Hosted Space Encounters with Astronaut Naoko Yamazaki
Durham University CN2i and Beamish Museum Hosted Space Encounters with Astronaut Naoko Yamazaki
On 18th July 2025, Beamish Museum and Durham University jointly organized Space Encounters – an evening with Astronaut Naoko Yamazaki. The event welcomed Naoko, former JAXA astronaut onboard the Space Shuttle Discovery and the International Space Station (ISS), to Beamish’s 1820s Pockerley heritage site. Naoko shared with us tales from her journey to Space, including captivating stories from her astronaut training and her mission delivering payload to build the ISS. Audience attending the event includes the general public from the region, as well as visiting professionals in the fields of Space Innovation, Exploration and Medicine from Europe and from as far as the US. Throughout the evening, attendants had the rare opportunity to engage directly with Naoko and dive into the wonders of Space Exploration and life at the frontiers of cutting-edge innovation.
Technological Heritage & Future Innovation
Organized and hosted by Dr Nikita Chiu, Associate Professor in Space Innovation & Technology Governance at Durham University, the event was part of the broader initiative of CN2i – a global collaborative network to advance inclusive innovation for critical operations. Launched by Nikita and Naoko with global partners, CN2i seeks to advance a more sustainable and inclusive space future by enthusing and inspiring the next generation of space innovators. “Our vision for the future is a collective reflection of the wisdom from our past. The Space Encounters event marks a unique moment when international space exploration is presented against the backdrop of Beamish’s rich history of the region’s heritage with technology and innovation, highlighting how our past continues to inform innovation of the future.” said Nikita, convenor of Space Encounters and Trustee of Beamish Museum.
Our vision for the future is a collective reflection of the wisdom from our past.
Nikita Chiu – Founding Director of CN2i / Trustee of Beamish Museum
Naoko said, “I am impressed with the Museum’s faithful preservation of technological heritage, particularly the region’s rail infrastructure from the past century. We know that the dimensions of rockets were developed so as to ensure that rockets could be transported through the rail network. In this sense, past technological infrastructure plays an important role in shaping the development of future technologies. It was incredible for me to have the opportunity to visit Beamish.”
I am impressed with the Museum’s faithful preservation of technological heritage, particularly the region’s rail infrastructure from the past century.
Naoko Yamazaki – Former JAXA Astronaut and Lead Astronaut of CN2i
Permanent Collection of Space Patch Flown to Outer Space
At the event, Naoko presented Beamish Museum with a certified space patch that she has brought with her to space onboard the space shuttle — Discovery. The patch will be collected permanently at the Museum, signifying the importance of Naoko’s visit to Durham and the North East.
Space Encounters
was convened in collaboration with Durham University Space Research Centre, Durham University Business School, Durham University Department of Management & Marketing, Durham University Institute for Advanced Study, St Chad’s College, and Beamish Museum.
Photos credits: Joe Turnbull
Coverage of the event can be found on Beamish Museum News page.