Space Gallery

Going to the upper level by stairs or lift, visitors enter the Space Gallery. Surprisingly, the first thing they encounter is a small garden of growing plants, a bit of Earth in space.

Looking out over the Space gallery, visitors observe a large orrery slowly rotating. Farther away, they see three satellites suspended from the ceiling high overhead. As they orient themselves, visitors hear the thunderous rumble of a rocket engine test coming from a far corner of the gallery.

The exhibit/activity areas in the Space Gallery are:

• Solar System Model - an orrery observed by a series of “probes” that return images of the planets and moons in our solar system.
• Galaxy View - a re-created slice of our galaxy that permits visitors to see a constellation in three dimensions.
• Satellite Stations - sensors mounted upon the overhead satellites that allow visitors to take remote images of the gallery below while learning about Earth-observing satellites.
• Rocket Engine Test - a multi-player simulation of a rocket engine test.
• Space Habitat - a video that examines the need for bio-regenerative systems for long-term space travel, while a small space garden illustrates the critical role of plants in creating such a system.