 |  | | | | NASA Brings the Stars to Pennsylvania With Interactive Exhibit
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05.11.07
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Starting May 15, residents of south central Pennsylvania can visit the stars without ever leaving the ground.
NASA is launching the Vision for Space Exploration Experience -- an interactive traveling exhibit allowing visitors to slip the confines of Earth -- on a brief tour of select cities in Pennsylvania. Stops along the way include Chambersburg, Media and New Castle.
 Image left: The NASA "Vision for Space Exploration Experience" is a traveling exhibit, housed in a 53-foot-long trailer. Visitors will embark on a simulated journey to the farthest reaches of the solar system. From interactive holographic control panels to 3-D imagery, visitors will discover what it might be like to live and work on the surfaces of the moon and Mars and to travel to Saturn's moon,Titan. Click image to enlarge. Credit: NASA
The Experience uses holographic and 3D imagery to show "explorers" what it might be like to visit the surfaces of the moon, Mars and destinations beyond. Visitors can manipulate their environment and explore simulated lunar and Martian landscapes as well as travel to one of Saturn's moons.
The first stop on the tour beginning Monday, May 14, is Chambersburg, where it will visit Faust Jr. High School. During the 3 day stop at Faust Jr. High, a NASA educator will be conducting classroom sessions with 8th and 9th grade Earth Science classes. The Vision for Space Exploration Experience will be open from 8:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. EDT, May 14-15, for students, and will re-open to the public from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. EDT on May 15 and 16.
Next, the Experience will travel to the Granite Run Mall in Media from Friday May 18 to May 20, to show what the future may hold for human space travel. The exhibit will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., May 18 and 19, and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 20.
 Image right: This is an interior picture of NASA's "Vision for Space Exploration Experience." Click image to enlarge. Credit: NASA
The exhibit's final stop is the George Washington Middle School in New Castle, where it will be from May 22 to 24. On Tuesday, May 22, the exhibit will be open for VIPs and Special Guest from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. On May 23 and 24, students can tour the exhibit from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The exhibit will only be open to the public on Wed. May 23 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. EDT. Admission to the Vision for Space Exploration Experience is free of charge.
NASA staffers will be on hand at each of the tour's stops to discuss some of the tens of thousands of technologies used on Earth as a result of years of space-based research and development. They will answer questions, as well. Visitors can learn how tomorrow's lifestyles will change as NASA develops advancements in power, computer technologies, communications, networking and robotics. Visitors also will see how other advanced technologies will increase safety and reliability of space transportation systems, while also reducing costs.
Touring the exhibit, which is wheelchair accessible, takes approximately 10 minutes. The exhibit can accommodate up to 144 visitors each hour.
Rob Gutro
Goddard Space Flight Center
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