WORCESTER – The EcoTarium, a science and nature museum at 222 Harrington St., launches a new permanent exhibit on space travel on Saturday, Sept. 13.
Lift off! Space Explorers provides visitors of all ages with the ability to explore the science of space travel. Visitors can discover what it takes to launch a rocket into orbit, explore the hidden mysteries of our universe, and imagine their place in the future of space exploration. The exhibit is designed to deepen understanding of astronomy, physics, and engineering.
A National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) grant supported the creation of the exhibit designed by Perch Design Studio of Portland, ME, and Panoptic Design Company of West Springfield, MA, in collaboration with the EcoTarium.
According to the EcoTarium, the exhibit provides the following experiences:
- Rocket Lab: Ready, Set, Launch! – Build your own rocket by choosing its payload and stages—then test if it has enough thrust to reach space.
- Gyroscopes in Action – Explore how gyroscopes help spacecraft navigate without fuel. Then, try your hand at tilting and spinning to see physics at work.
- The Evolution of Rockets – Travel through time from Robert Goddard’s groundbreaking 1926 rocket to today’s powerful machines that carry satellites, telescopes, and astronauts into the unknown.
- Launch Director Challenge – Step into mission control and see if you can coordinate all the moving parts of a successful rocket launch—every decision matters!
- Looking at Space – Experiment with telescopes and light to uncover the hidden layers of the universe. Track how gravity shapes light, bend beams, and learn how scientists study the cosmos.
- The People Behind Space Missions – Discover the inspiring scientists, engineers, and dreamers who pushed boundaries, overcame challenges, and changed how we understand our universe.
- Interactive Night Sky – Journey across the cosmos as you explore how light-years measure the unimaginable distances of space. Look back in time as you trace starlight that has traveled for centuries to reach your eyes.
- Full Dome Alden Planetarium – Immerse yourself in a full-dome flight into space through one of eight films available in the Alden Digital Planetarium. Experience the wonders of the universe with state-of-the-art laser technology on the only full-dome planetarium in Central Massachusetts!
