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........................... Jan. 07 - Jan. 17, 2001
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| Museum of Flight's Building for Space Travel exhibit soars | |
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The exhibit accomplishes more than this, depicting the undeniable effect that space exploration has had on American culture. Memorabilia abounds here, showing visitors how intertwined culture and the space race is: A 1950s lunchbox with rockets and a space station. An advertising poster for a 1949 Oldsmobile "Rocket" with a German V-2 missile flying overhead. We are reminded of unforgettable 1960s fashions inspired by space travel. Styled for a streamlined look, mylar, lycra, and metallic fabrics reflect the materials and aerodynamics of space travel. Models, photos, and film posters illustrate popular fascination with the possibility of extraterrestrial life: "Star Trek", "Battlestar Galactica", and "Alien" to name just a few. Naturally, the film "2001: A Space Odyssey" is represented by movie posters and film stills, but it is included for practical reasons as well. The designers of Skylab, America's first space station, were encouraged to see "2001", "because of its realistic approach to visualizing space travel as an everyday occurrence." Want to vacation at an off-planet resort? View the concept drawing of a 64-room hotel in space. Current room rates range between $10,000 to $100,000 per person. Those who created the exhibit understand that interactive is more fun than "Do Not Touch", so pull some levers to feel how heavy a bag of sugar is. It's five pounds on Earth, but how much does it weigh on the Moon? Stroll through a mock-up of the International Space Station's Hab Lab Module. Check out the rowing machine and bathroom in the ceiling while listening to recordings of actual radio transmissions between space and Earth. Take an extravehicular flight in the "Rendezvous in Space" exhibit downstairs. After a little training from NASA, fire your thrusters and head for the space station. There is a treasure-trove of visuals for kids and adults alike, with a bounty of information at each display. Inspiration awaits children, where they can discover what it takes to begin preparing now for a career as an astronaut.
This exhibit is a must-see for anyone interested in space travel, science fiction, culture, or all three. It closes May 12. For hours and ticket information, visit www.museumofflight.org.
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| by Cindy Valleley | |
The space suit hanging above the entrance gives the impression that one might learn about the history of space exploration in a classic way, but there is a refreshing and fun twist to this exhibit's theme: "How cultural influences have shaped our ideas about designing for space."
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