Do you have what it takes … to live and work in space? Find out at “Journey to Space,” a new exhibition opening at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences on Saturday, Nov. 2.
This special exhibition, developed in partnership with NASA's Johnson Space Center, invites visitors to explore the extraordinary environment of space, including the dangers that astronauts face during their missions above Earth and the adaptations that engineers have developed to help them survive while in space.
You’ll learn about the vacuum of space, radiation, meteoroids and temperature extremes, getting a look at all the ways in which the forbidding environment of space can challenge the humans who explore it. You will experience the sights, sounds and smells on board the International Space Station (ISS), and try your hand at some of the feats of engineering that support astronauts who live in space. Finally, check out authentic artifacts from past missions, including Neil Armstrong’s helmet and gloves from Apollo 11, when he became the first person to walk on the moon.
Through games, multimedia components and interactive stations, you’ll learn how astronauts eat, sleep and even go to the bathroom in space. Finally, climb aboard a full-scale mock-up of the Destiny Lab, the primary research facility for U.S. payloads on the ISS, and feel the sensation of floating as you get a virtual tour of the lab from astronauts who have worked there.
Profiles on Museum astronomers Rachel Smith and Patrick Treuthardt will detail the adventure of astronomy on Earth, including how researchers observe space using powerful telescopes in Hawai‘i, and how spiral galaxies are formed.
“Journey to Space” is presented by the Science Museum of Minnesota and the California Science Center with support from NASA. It will run through April 27, 2025.
For more information or to buy tickets, visit naturalsciences.org/space. Tickets are also available at the Museum Box Office: Free for Members; $16 for Adults; $12 for Children 3-12. Exhibition Hours are Tuesday–Sunday,10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last entry at 4 p.m.).
About the NC Museum of Natural Sciences
The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in downtown Raleigh (11 and 121 W. Jones St.) is an active research institution that engages visitors of every age and stage of learning in the wonders of science and the natural world. In addition to two downtown buildings showcasing seven floors of world-class exhibits, the Museum runs Prairie Ridge Ecostation, a 45-acre outdoor education and research facility in west Raleigh, as well as satellite facilities in Whiteville, Greenville and Grifton (Contentnea Creek). Our mission is to illuminate the natural world and inspire its conservation. Downtown Raleigh Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. General admission is free. For more information, visit www.naturalsciences.org.
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.