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.