HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — America’s plans for opening the space frontier, including new human exploration of Earth’s moon and future voyages into the solar system beyond, are featured in an interactive exhibit scheduled to visit Ames, Iowa, Aug. 26-28.
The NASA Exploration Experience exhibit will be open to the public at Ames High School at 1921 Ames High Drive. The public is invited to tour the free exhibit from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. each day.
The Iowa tour began Aug. 7 at the Sweet Corn Festival in West Point, and traveled to the Iowa Children’s Museum in Coralville Aug. 13-15. The Ames stop will conclude the exhibit’s month-long Iowa tour.
The NASA Exploration Experience simulates a breathtaking visit to the first destination on America’s new journey into the solar system: Earth’s moon. “Interactive control panels and activity stations, immersive 3D imagery and audio effects will plunge visitors into a not-too-distant future on the moon,” said Marshall Center outreach coordinator Keyke Reed, a spokesperson for the exhibit. “They’ll discover what it will be like to live and work on the surfaces of other worlds — and how it will benefit life back home on Earth.”
NASA staffers will be on hand to answer questions and discuss some of the thousands of technologies used on Earth as a result of years of space-based research and development by the agency and its partners.
“Exhibit visitors can learn how our quality of life improves when America’s space exploration activities refine existing technologies or develop new breakthroughs in areas such as power generation, computer technology, communications, networking and robotics,” Reed said. “Visitors also can learn how other advanced technologies are increasing the safety and reliability of space transportation systems, while also reducing costs.”
Touring the NASA Exploration Experience exhibit takes approximately 12 minutes. The exhibit is wheelchair-accessible.
NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., manages the traveling exhibit for the agency’s Exploration Systems Mission Directorate in Washington. For more information, visit:
