National Space Exploration Centre planned for County Roscommon

Plans to develop an interactive National Space Exploration Centre (NSEC) in South Roscommon, with the creation of more than 20 jobs, have been lodged with Roscommon County Council.

The applicant, Metaversal Ltd, is seeking planning permission to develop a state-of-the-art visitor attraction and learning experience at a unit in Westpoint Retail Park in Monksland. The proposals for the centre include an interactive space museum, a virtual reality space mission experience, and an auditorium area for children, youths, and adults. A café and merchandising store are also planned.

The proposed museum involving 45 interactive exhibitions is aimed at communicating how important the planet is, and highlighting the positive and negative impact which human activity has on the planet.

The proposals for this educational and recreational facility include a virtual reality space mission experience and an auditorium area for children, youths, and adults. The plans feature a virtual reality roller coaster which will simulate a take-off, orbit of earth and landing back down to earth.

It is projected that the NSEC will employ three full-time staff and 19 part-time staff across a range of positions, including managerial and administrator roles, attraction attendants, food and beverage associates, and cleaning and maintenance staff.

Comprising a gross floor area of more than 18,500 square foot, the proposed facility is over two floors including a first-floor mezzanine area.

According to the planning application, the space exploration centre aims to install the most up-to-date and modern technology in exhibit and user experience design.

The planning application explains that the exhibits in the space exploration centre will be interactive, engaging, and educational, meaning that users will have to physically use each exhibit. Combining digital and analogue devices, the interactive nature of the exhibits will “lend towards a more engaging and fun learning experience”.

In the planning documents, Metaversal outline that there is an absence of interactive and educational science experiences in Roscommon and in the general midlands region. “The absence of such an experience in the region means that people seeking to learn about science must travel outside Roscommon.

“There is also an absence of space-related educational facilities in Ireland. Birr Castle Observatory and Armagh Observatory offer space-orientated museum experiences but mainly focus on the history of space exploration.

“It is an objective of the NSEC to also inspire students to pursue careers in the sciences by fostering an interest in this subject through engaging and captivating experiences,” says the company.

The project aims to promote learning in S.T.E.M. subjects, and the most significant number of visitors to the centre are expected to come from primary or secondary schools. 

The plans also include a new bus parking bay, bicycle shelters and solar panels to the roof area.

Funding will be sought through the EU Just Transition Grant Aid Scheme.

County planners are due to make a decision on the development by July 15th.