The California Science Center offered a first look Tuesday into a new rocket science gallery at the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, which will include an exhibit made by USC students.
The Kent Kresa Space Gallery is one of three galleries at the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, which is currently under construction and is scheduled to open next year at the California Science Center. The gallery will showcase a Rocket Lab Electron Rocket, a solid rocket booster and a Space Shuttle Main Engine. Its exhibits will explore themes including “Humans in Space,” “Robots in Space” and “Rocket Science.”
A large air and space section has been part of the Science Center’s plans since its 1992 master plan, which included a rendering of a space shuttle in launch position.
“It’s been a long-time dream, but it was a dream back then, and not something we knew we’d actually pull off,” said Jeffrey Rudolph, the president and chief executive officer of the California Science Center. “It’s been an amazing experience to get this done, and I think the whole community really owns and feels a sense of ownership in this space shuttle.”
Rudolph said the Kent Kresa Space Gallery will feature a walk-through experience inside a flown solid rocket booster and will display a collection of 100 artifacts, including rare and historic aerospace objects.
With 100 new exhibits, the three galleries within the center aim to convey how machines are built to explore space and how those machines shape our understanding of the universe.
Kenneth Phillips, curator of aerospace science at the California Science Center and adjunct professor of physics and astronomy at USC, said the exhibits help demonstrate fundamental scientific and engineering concepts.
“It features answers to why things perform the way they do, as opposed to history … what we’re trying to do is tell a story that has to do with the development of technology, instruments, machines and scientific findings,” Phillips added.
Phillips led a collaboratory at the Sidney Harman Academy for Polymathic Study, where five to six students are chosen to participate in a year-long project guided by a faculty member.
Students in the 2019-2020 collaboratory designed “Distant Destinations,” an exhibit that will be featured in the Rocket Science section of the new gallery. The five-player game allows visitors to collaborate or work individually on a simulated mission to Mars.
“I had the students come here and take a look at some of the exhibits that we had, so they understood a little bit about what exhibit development was, and I met with them every week for a year,” said Phillips.
The California Science Center also plans to display the Endeavor space shuttle in launch position. The shuttle has been on display at the center since October 2012, but is currently closed to the public as it is being moved to the new facility.
“It’s really important to be able to share this type of technology, because it’s important to conserve and share space technology and heritage with future generations, but it’s also important to have the current generation see what’s going on today,” said Adam Spice, the chief financial officer at Rocket Lab. “So it’s great to walk through a museum and see all the great things that have happened in the past, but also show them what’s going on today, to inspire them to be part of that.”
“This is an invitation for people to get in the game,” said Phillips.
“The study of our universe is a fascinating endeavor,” said Phillips. “In my opinion, it is one of the most important things that we can do. It makes us humble. It also makes us somewhat proud as humans that we can understand the things that we can understand. It’s truly amazing.”