US Space & Rocket Center Builds Replicas Of International Space Station Modules In Alabama

Have you ever dreamed of stepping inside the International Space Station (ISS)? What seems to be an impossible dream - at least for those who are not astronauts - can now become a reality in a way, thanks to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center (USSRC).

In a new exhibit opened on Jan. 26 at the USSRC in Huntsville, Alabama, spectators can walk through mockups of ISS modules, where they can practice docking a robotic arm, check out space food and see where astronauts sleep and answer the call of nature.

The USSRC, a Smithsonian affiliate and the official visitor center for NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, has the largest collection of missile and rocket memorabilia in the world and it shows the rich history of the United States' journey in space travel.

Dubbed as the "ISS: Science on Orbit", the exhibit lets visitors witness the true sense of what it's like to live and work in the ISS. It also has a mockup of the Payload Operations Integration Center at Marshall where engineers and scientists control and manage science experiments that astronauts conduct on the ISS.

There's even a full-scale replica of the Cupola Observation Module, or the window where astronauts gaze down on Earth. Astronauts in the ISS usually share snapshots of the various countries, sites and places on Earth on social media.

Deborah Barnhart, Space Center CEO, said that while it's common knowledge that there is a space station, not everyone knows exactly what goes on in it.

"[V]ery few people know what kind of science is going on," said Barnhart. "That's the point of this exhibition, to make sure people understand the benefits of the space station."

Aside from "ISS: Science on Orbit," there are other exhibit galleries and theaters in the USSRC. The center has a Saturn V Hall at the Davidson Center for Space Exploration, where visitors can see an authentic Saturn V rocket, one of the only three in the world.

At Rocket Park, visitors can see 27 Army missiles and rockets that launched the U.S. space program and paved the way for the Marshall Space Flight Center. Guests can also check out various launch vehicles at Shuttle Park.

The Discovery Theater inside the rocket center gives guests a better understanding of scientific theories and principles that help NASA plan for future space travels. There's also the IMAX Spacedome Theater and the National Geographic Theater that show educational documentaries and films on space exploration.