Ever wanted to be an astronaut? The new exhibit recently opened by the California Space Center will let you experience the fascinating aspects of living in a space station without your body being launched out of the atmosphere.
Entitled "Journey to Space: The Exhibition," the exhibit will allow visitors to see the workspace of astronauts and the full-scale replica of NASA's Destiny Labs, as well as different technologies astronauts use to monitor fluctuating temperatures and keep them from being hit by meteoroids.
When visitors are inside the simulated workspace of astronauts, the walls and the ceilings even rotate. Scientists say that it is meant to test if a person can deal with a disorienting environment.
"In space, there's no up-down, left or right. There's only 'closer to things' or 'further away from things', and it consequently gives you the ability to work anywhere you want, and not just right in front of you," said Danny Olivas, a former NASA astronaut who was involved in the exhibit.
Visitors can also simulate and manage the energy in a small-scale space station, find out how astronauts sleep, go to the bathroom and eat in space, and operate a robotic arm.
Scientists say that the exhibit is meant to be a hands-on and interactive experience for visitors so that they will learn firsthand what it feels like to be an astronaut.
Aside from the exhibition, there is also a 3D movie which explores the history of NASA's Space Shuttle Program, the launch of the International Space Station, and the journey of the Hubble Space Telescope. The film also includes the possibility of sending humans to Mars, along with the risks and possible innovative solutions involved with it.
California Science Center president Jeffrey Rudolph explained that the exhibition and 3D film will have a richer educational impact on visitors and will incite a deeper understanding of the space exploration challenges that astronauts face.
Olivas meanwhile added that the 3D film aims to inspire future generations of engineers and researchers to come up with awe-inspiring technologies that will move our whole species forward.
The whole exhibition was developed and designed by the Science Museum of Minnesota in collaboration with the International Space Station Office of NASA's Johnson Space Center, the California Science Center and partner museums.
Watch the video about the exhibit here:
