Discovery Park of America has announced that it will be bringing “Astronaut” to West Tennessee in 2020. The popular exhibit allows guests to explore the physical and mental challenges involved in space exploration and to discover what life is like outside Earth’s atmosphere.
Members of Discovery Park will have the first chance to explore the new exhibit Thurs., Jan. 16, 2020, at a members-only event.
“Astronaut” will be open to the public Jan. 17 – May 3, 2020. Tickets for “Astronaut” will be $6.95 in addition to the price of admission to Discovery Park. Special pricing of $4.95 is available for student groups.
Located in the ATA Traveling Exhibit Hall, the exhibit features 26 stations that demonstrate how life is lived in space with zero gravity, according to a news release from the museum. Guests can test their grip strength in special gloves that mimic the pressurized spacesuit or they can work together to smoothly launch their own space mission.
“As partners with teachers in the region, we chose this exhibit because it enhances many of the STEAM lessons students are being taught in the classroom,” said Jennifer Wildes, collections and exhibits director for Discovery Park. “Parents and teachers will also appreciate the focus on teamwork, problem solving and how to overcome challenges.”
The education team at Discovery Park has space-related programs to offer school groups when they visit. Additionally, there is a School and Visitors Guide available online that covers key messages and learning opportunities that are included throughout the exhibit, as well as supplemental projects that can be done at home or in the classroom before or after a visit.
“One of the reasons this is such a great temporary exhibit for Discovery Park is that we have so many other space-related exhibits out at STEM Landing and in the Science, Space and Technology Gallery,” said Discovery Park’s CEO Scott Williams. “When combined with “Astronaut,” guests will enjoy a unique experience that rivals any space or science museum in the world.”
The most visible item on display in STEM Landing—and the largest artifact in Discovery Park’s collection—is a fully restored Titan I Missile that was donated to the park by the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and was transported here from the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala. in 2016.
The centerpiece of STEM Landing is the Moon Dome, a 24-foot high geodesic dome, built of galvanized steel, and covered with a giant NASA image of the Moon printed on vinyl. Inside the Moon Dome are many artifacts that catalog the achievements of human space exploration, including artifacts from NASA’s Space Shuttle Program.
For more information or to book a field trip, educators should call reservations at 731-885-5455 or email reservations@discoveryparkofamerica.com.
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