AN aerospace company and a planetarium in West Lothian are teaming up ahead of the creation of an aviation, astronomy, and space centre in Kinross.

The partnership between Aero Space Scientific Educational Trust (ASSET) and Cosmos Planetarium will allow them to deliver astronomy skills to school pupils.

The duo behind Cosmos Planetarium, Steven Gray and James Green, have been running cosmic outreach programmes across Scotland and the north of England for several years, bringing their astronomy skills to primary and secondary schools as well as numerous events and festivals around the UK.

Cosmos Planetarium presents an ideal solution to supporting the planetarium element of the project as well as continuing to build continued and strong public engagement and awareness through their astronomy outreach programme.

Alisdair Stewart, chairman of ASSET, said: “We are enjoying a very positive start to 2018, for our Aero Space Kinross (ASK) project development and thrilled to be merging Cosmos Planetarium into ASK, as this both recognises the immense skill set Steven Gray and James Green will bring to the astronomy element of our ambitions, but also shows real business confidence as we move into our crucial capital funding stage.

“Building awareness of ASK is vital in the coming months and the dynamic outreach programme run by Cosmos Planetarium represents an even greater opportunity to tell our story throughout the UK to help realise our ambitions.

“It also underpins our project successes from last year, when we bought a Eurofox kit plane for our Build-A-Plane project with Kinross High School (partially funded by LEADER) – which is underway right now. We have also employed an expert fundraiser Donna Hegarty, a financial administrator Helen Gilmour and Zoe Garvie – ASK’s new science educator.”

With the merger completed, Cosmos Planetarium will trade through Aero Space Kinross Steven Gray and James Green will be welcomed as directors of ASK and trustees of ASSET.

Managing partner Steven Gray said: “This is a very exciting move for us as we see this as a significant and dynamic development that melds our two businesses together and can bring great results as the Aero Space Kinross project grows.

“Following my Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Travelling Fellowship, Capture an Eclipse in 360°, I have developed significant contacts during my two month visit to the USA, partnering with mobile and fixed dome organisations in the run up to the 2017 eclipse and I see this experience as an additional asset to help Cosmos and Aero Space Kinross move forward together in attracting international funders.

“We have been actively running our bespoke shows in the planetarium for nearly four years now, annually engaging with over 10,000 people of all ages and this is a distinct opportunity to continue to raise awareness of the project.”