Have you ever wondered what it’s like to live and work in space?
An upcoming exhibit at Georgia Southern University will give children of all ages and their parents an opportunity to learn about astronauts and their contributions to the U.S. space program.
“Spacing Out: A Day in the Life of an Astronaut” is an interactive exhibit that will be on display in the Nessmith-Lane Continuing Education Building.
Featuring a full-size replica of a Mercury capsule and a 17-foot tall scale model of the Space Shuttle launch stack, the exhibit will allow visitors to relive the perils and accomplishments of America’s original space travelers.
“This exhibit is both fun and informative,” said Wendy Denton, the assistant director of the Georgia Southern Museum. “Kids can imagine themselves as astronauts while they learn about an important chapter in American history.”
The exhibit will open on April 28 with a special celebration hosted by the Museum and the Georgia Southern Planetarium. The opening day festivities will run from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
“Spacing Out” is being produced by the Museum with special assistance from NASA, the Planetarium and Lorne Wolfe, who is a professor in the university’s Department of Biology.
The exhibit will detail the history of Americans in space, from the early days of the Mercury program, through the Gemini and Apollo missions, to Skylab, the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station.
Along the way, visitors will learn about an astronaut’s life in space: how they work, how they exercise, how they eat — even how they go to the bathroom.
Visitors can climb inside the Mercury capsule, or study the Space Shuttle stack, a 1:15 scale model on loan from NASA.
“Kids can pretend to be Alan Shepard, who was the first American in space, or John Glenn, who was the first American to orbit the Earth,” Denton said.
The exhibit will include a variety of NASA artifacts, videos and photos, hands-on activities, a Lego moon and Mars activity area, and a space-themed gift shop.
“Spacing Out” will be open every Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Admission is $4.50 per person for ages 15 and over, and $3 per person for ages 3-14. Members of the Museum will be admitted free. Group tours are welcome and may be scheduled by calling the Museum.
Sponsored by WTOC-TV in Savannah and the Wal-Mart Distribution Center in Statesboro, the exhibit will remain on display through July 28.
The Nessmith-Lane Continuing Education Building is located on the GSU campus at the corner of Chandler Road and Plant Drive.
For more information, visit http://ceps.georgiasouthern.edu/museum/ or call the museum at (912) 681-5444.
