Space Exploration

Innovations in space have allowed us to look at our place in the universe in a new way. Satellites, distant sensors, and drones let us see how the Earth is changing in real time. Telescopes on the ground and out in space let us peer into galaxies to see where stars are born.

Hear what it is like to work at a telescope on top of a mountain. Maneuver a Jet Pack Chair to fix a satellite. Explore a futuristic Martian habitat – control a rover, conduct a scientific mission and even touch a piece of Mars!

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Jet Pack Chair

Take a ride in a chair resembling a NASA manned maneuvering unit (MMU). Feel like a real astronaut as you float and navigate your way around an enclosed arena using jets of compressed air.

View from Space
(Temporarily Closed)

View from Space is based on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Science On a Sphere. One of the few exhibits of its kind in the U.S., this gorgeous attraction features a 6-foot sphere and two projectors that cast rotating images onto it, creating the effect of Earth in space. View from Space appeals to anyone who has ever wanted to be an astronaut.

The sphere and projector system at the heart of View from Space represent a significant technological achievement. The exhibit also relies on data collected via satellites and other technologies being used around the world to help us understand and make predictions about both our dynamic environment and the future of our planet.

Dr. Alexander MacDonald of the NOAA Forecast Systems Laboratory was a laureate of The Tech Awards in 2003 for developing this visualization system.