So, you want to be an astronaut when you grow up? Or you wanted to be an astronaut when you grew up? “Mission: Astronaut,” the latest traveling exhibit to land at Orlando Science Center, features the many job requirements and duties that come with outer-space assignments.
“It talks about the training. It talks about what it takes to be an astronaut, how to train to be one, what they’ll be doing in space,” said Jeff Stanford, vice president of marketing. “So it breaks it down into very specific areas that you can see.”
Stations within the exhibit, created by Flying Fish Exhibits, explain the future of space exploration, how to pack your capsule, working with robotics and some basics for staying, well, alive like meal prep.
“We’re all about trying to get people excited about STEM and talking about STEM careers and STEM skills. … An astronaut is like the ultimate STEM professional,” Stanford said.
“They do critical thinking, they’re problem-solving, they’re creative, they’re collaborative, they communicate,” he said. So this exhibit is “a really colorful way to get people to show people what a STEM career is, what STEM skills are. I mean, astronauts are problem-solving all the time.”
The centerpiece of the exhibit is a domed structure that symbolizes inflatable option on other worlds, and it houses a colorful hands-on building activity. The other stations are spread around the space on the second level of the science center.
That’s where visitors will see cultivation explanation, exercise options and a deeper dive into spacesuits, where tasks are achieved with big bulky space gloves.
‘Mission: Astronaut’ includes an exploration of spacesuits and a chance to complete tasks while donning the big gloves that are used. (Orlando Science Center)
Folks might also get a reality check. Sure, it’s all fun and games and serious work up there, but space can mess with your body. Among the hazards: Loss of muscle mass, reduced vision, weakened immune systems, altered heart shape (more round, less oval) and wacked-out circadian rhythms.
And then, the inner grade-schoolers may tee-hee as the headline of “everybody poops, even in space.” Tee-hee.
“Solid waste is packed into a resupply vessel and burns up when it enters Earth’s atmosphere,” reads the explanation.
It happens. But wait, there’s more.
“Urine is added to other types of wastewater like sweat and condensation, and is filtered back into the station’s drinking water.”
Visitors can walk off that tidbit in the related art exhibit on the upper level. “Space for Art” features multiple artists – including actual astronauts – and their works inspired by space exploration. There’s also the Beyond Art Spacesuit on display in the museum lobby. It uses artwork from children that’s quilted together by spacesuit company ILC Dover Astrospace.
Back up in the gallery is “Artful Expressions: A Universe of Possibilities” featuring student artwork by students of Florida Virtual School and Florida Scholars Academy.
The art stays in place through April 4. “Mission: Astronaut” exhibits remain through May 3. Both are included with regular science center admission.
For more information, go to OSC.org.