It is rocket science: the role of our region in future space travel

At Airbus in Stevenage they're working on sending a rover like this to explore Mars. Credit: ITV News Anglia

This week marks the 50th anniversary of the moon landings - the feat of science and engineering which gripped the world.

But it also provided inspiration for a new generation of rocket scientists which is still being felt in our region.

  • Click below to watch Matthew Hudson's report.

At Airbus in Stevenage they're working on sending a rover to explore Mars.

Meanwhile, scientists at the Open University in Milton Keynes are working as part of NASA's Artemis programme, a long-term project designed to create a habitable moon base.

It's hoped it will eventually become a staging post for manned missions to Mars.

The university has developed a device which will monitor the atmosphere near the surface of the moon and help find water and oxygen trapped in rocks.