Hands-on learning, immersive planetarium programs invite Washington Pavilion visitors into space

This piece is sponsored by Washington Pavilion Management Inc.

If you watched the historic Artemis II mission this spring with a new appreciation for space exploration, the Washington Pavilion needs to be on your schedule this month.

May 1 is National Space Day, but “we decided to celebrate all month,” said Alyssa Miller, manager of operations and engagement.

There’s plenty to celebrate, from the new “Space Explorers: Mission Infinity” now open on the second floor of the Kirby Science Discovery Center to enhanced programming at the Sweetman Planetarium and special activities just for May.

“We definitely saw increased interest during the Artemis mission,” Miller said. “Several years ago, someone who was part of planning Artemis visited the Washington Pavilion, and some of our guests remembered that and thought of us when it launched. We had quite a few families come visit or see shows in the planetarium.”

Inside “Space Explorers: Mission Infinity,” kids and families can:

• Build and launch a rocket at Mission Control.
• View Earth from above and learn how satellites work.
• Step inside a Mars habitat and explore the Red Planet.
• Explore deep space through interactive telescope experiences.
• Imagine alien worlds and life beyond our solar system.

“I think the coolest thing about the space floor is because we’re continually learning more about space, what we know is changing, and if you’ve been here previously, there’s still new content,” Miller said.

Visitors have enjoyed an interactive area to learn about gardening on Mars, as well as a multiplayer game played from the perspective of looking down on Earth.

“We have a basketball activity in the Mars area, and you’ll see people getting back in line to try and master it,” Miller said. “The space floor works well because there’s so much to do, everyone is spread out, and you flow easily into the next activity.”

Walk through a tunnel filled with stars, where the roof and floors are mirrors, “and so many walk in and think it’s a drop,” she added. “You feel like you’re being transported. So many people do a double take that it’s fun to see the reactions — and it’s a great selfie location.”

The area is a good fit for kids once they start elementary school, though there are activities for all ages.

“We have a gravity well that balls race down, and little ones love that,” Miller said. “They even like seeing how the robot arm moves when they pull levers and joysticks, plus we have a build-a-rocket station that’s fun for all ages.”

Special events

Other new additions at the Washington Pavilion are offered only in May for Space Month:

• Mission ISS VR Demo Cart

Saturdays and Sundays
10:15 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 1:15 p.m. and 3:15 p.m.

Experience life aboard the International Space Station through an interactive VR demonstration.

• 3D Print Rocket Cards

May 23-24
12:15 p.m.

Watch rocket-themed designs come to life through 3D printing demonstrations.

• Mission Patch Quest

Complete space-themed challenges throughout the museum to earn your mission patch badge.

• Planetarium programming

At the Sweetman Planetarium, programming has increased for Space Month, with the Astra and Sirius weekly programming series at 3:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Today, the focus was on the outer solar system, and on May 27, it’s exoplanets.

“Guests watch a short film that has a different theme each week, and then we venture into Jack’s Imagination Lab and do a short interactive activity and discuss the film,” Miller said.

The planetarium’s 60-foot domed screen offers full-immersion viewing with state-of-the-art projection and sound, perfect for space and science-themed films.

There are new ongoing films perfect for Space Month as well:

• In “One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure,” explore the night sky with Big Bird, Elmo and a friend from China named Hu Hu Zhu! In this show featuring beloved characters from “Sesame Street,” you’ll learn about the Big Dipper, the North Star, the sun and the moon. It’s the perfect introduction to space for the youngest astronomers.
• “The Great Solar System Adventure” is a fun, immersive planetarium show designed for families, curious kids and anyone who loves space. This character-led, full-dome experience takes you on a guided journey through the solar system, turning complex science into something exciting, visual and easy to follow. Travel past blazing suns, icy planets and massive storms as you explore space alongside engaging on-screen guides. From Mercury’s extreme heat to Jupiter’s swirling clouds, every moment is designed to spark curiosity and keep young explorers engaged.

“We try to offer a wide, diverse range of things because everyone has different learning styles, so the more we offer, the more people we can engage,” Miller said.

Visit here for details.

Fun after-hours

The next Cosmos & Cocktails event marks a perfect adults-only end to Space Month. From 6 to 8 p.m. May 28, enjoy three floors of interactive science exhibits and eight art galleries while sipping on tasty cocktails without the kids.

The event includes a live planetarium show featuring Dr. Ken Murphy’s look at exoplanets — how scientists find hidden planets and explore extreme environments.

Murphy, professor of physics and planetarium director at Southwest Minnesota State University, “really takes what guests are interested in and runs with it,” Miller said. “At our last event, there was a lot of excitement around exoplanets, so he took that and crafted a program around it.”

Visit here to sign up.