Exhibits
Now Open!
Explore Wonders of the Universe at Adventure Science Center, our newest permanent exhibit gallery, opening Saturday, Nov. 7. Wonders of the Universe examines the visible and the invisible, using a hands-on approach that includes a mix of multi-touch technology, gaming, imaging and other media. You won’t want to miss:
Star Walk
Immerse yourself in this deep space simulation. Experience the darkness of space and the brilliance of stars everywhere as you take a walk through an imaginary galaxy. Watch that first step and be sure to hold on to the handrail!Solar Projection Table
The Sun is 93 million miles away, but at the Solar Projection Table, you can see images of sunspots and solar flares up close, all projected on a five-foot wide table. At this exhibit you can stare at the Sun!Infrared Wall
What does your heat signature look like compared to others when captured by our infrared camera? At this exhibit, you will see your body’s different temperatures converted to colors and projected in real time as you walk in front of the Infrared Wall. So, how hot or cold are you?Space Imaging
Have you ever been X-rayed? Do you use a remote control? Learn how the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum makes these things (and more) possible at the only-one-of-its-kind, 100-inch multi-touch table. Move objects through the different wavelengths of the EM spectrum, see how different they look, and learn why. Explore the ultimate in energy - radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-ray, and gamma rays!Cosmic Ray's
Compete with the crews of other ships as you explore space by playing Beyond Our World, a multiplayer space adventure in Cosmic Ray's, a completely unique gaming environment. And don’t forget to check your score on the Big Board!
TEST BED
On the first floor of the Space Chase exhibit hall, visitors can experiment with space exploration tools in this spectacular two-story high astronaut training and technology center. Through hands-on, interactive exhibits, you learn what it takes for a rocket to launch, what happens during ifree fall,i and how Newtonis Laws mean a lot in space. Highlights include:
Moonwalker
Get the feeling of walking on the moon and see just how high you can jump and how lightly you come back down when only in 1/6 gravity!EVA Experience
Discover the challenges facing astronauts during their extravehicular activities (ispacewalksi). While in simulated weightlessness, attempt a series of activities to see how the astronauts work in zero gravity.Trajectory Trails
Learn the roles of gravity, angle and force in determining the trajectories of rockets, which are essential to achieving orbit and reaching further destinations in space. Challenge your skills as you attempt to hit lighted targets by firing a special launcher.
Solar System Survey
Take a walk through our solar system and discover the relationships between the planets and their moons, how much you weigh on Jupiter or Saturn, and why we have seasons. Visitors will have the solar system at their fingertips through interactive stations. Highlights include:
Worlds of Wonder
This five-foot digital sphere uses internal digital projection to tell the story of the solar system not just in ways we can see but also with topographic maps, atmospheric data, geological features, and more.Tilt a World
Using a specially designed navigation table, visitors can tilt and twist the surface to explore the Earth. A robust database of satellite imagery allows the visitor to zoom in to find their favorite location or zoom out to get the big picture.Planet Globes
Examine to-scale models of the planets of our Solar System and explore the wonders of each planet at its interactive digital panel.
Special Thanks
Gathering the text and images for Space Chase would have been impossible without the assistance of dozens of people from across the country.
Astronomers Dr. David Weintraub of Vanderbilt University, Dr. Spencer Buckner of Austin-Peay State University, and Dr. Todd Gary of Tennessee State University reviewed countless pages of text and graphics captions for accuracy and readability.
The professionals at many NASA centers went above and beyond the call of duty:
John Dumoulin and Mitzi Adams of NASA Marshall Space Flight Center,
Anita Sohus and the staff of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory,
Jody Russell and the staff of the NASA Johnson Space Center Media Resource Center
William Brassard, photographer at the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory at NASA Johnson Space Center,
John Stoke and the staff of the Space Telescope Science Institute, and
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.Coming soon to Wonders of the Universe will be the first of its kind, a fantastic mural of a portion of the Milky Way galaxy in ultra-high-resolution from the 2MASS project prepared by the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center at CalTech and JPL with the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and funded by NSF.
