Exhibits

While the main focus of the Challenger Space Center is on the educational programs we offer to all ages, it’s hard to overlook our beautiful and unique building. The following is a list of exhibits that we have temporarily on loan and permanently at the Center.

*NEW EXHIBITS NOW OPEN:

*An Astronaut’s Life: Articles Flown In Space

23 items on loan from the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., 19 of which have flown in space on Gemini 8, Skylab 2, and several STS missions. The artifacts tell the story of how astronauts live in space. Included are a washcloth from the first Space Shuttle, STS-1 Columbia, clothing and bio-belt worn on Skylab 2 by astronaut Paul Weitz, space food from STS-27 Atlantis, and an actual heat shield fragment from Gemini 8 which carried astronauts Neil Armstrong and David Scott into orbit on March 16, 1966. The 23 items include additional artifacts that, while earth-bound, helped astronauts and NASA prepare for space exploration. Visitors will see a model of the complete, two-astronaut Gemini spacecraft as it appeared in orbit, a Mercury capsule hatch, a procedures trainer form-fitting couch, and a TV camera similar to the one used to transmit images of astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on Apollo 11 and record their activities (the original camera is still on the moon). The exhibition is made possible by a grant from the Tohono O’odham Nation. The new gallery is made possible through the generous contributions of corporate partners CORE Construction and Knight Transportation, and a City of Peoria grant.

*Astronaut Bill Gregory Loans Items Flown In Space Former NASA Space Shuttle Astronaut William Gregory has placed on loan some of his personal items which flew with him on STS-67 Endeavour March 2-18, 1995. Among the articles are a shirt worn by Gregory in space, part of a detonated bolt which held a rocket booster in place on the launch pad, a disposable interface used to grow protein crystals in microgravity, back-up checklists and some of his personal hygiene items that he used during the research mission. Also on display are Gregory’s NASA jet flight suit, helmet, oxygen mask and boots he wore as a T-38 test pilot.

Challenger Space Center also opened the NASA-NASCAR spinoff exhibit “From Rockets to Racecars” on Nov 10. The display features various tires and the technology behind their creation, including a space shuttle tire, a lunar rover tire replica and a NASCAR tire. The items are from NASA’s Artifact Loan Opportunities Program and will be on display through Dec. 31, 2010. According to the web site CollectSPACE, although not much larger than a truck tire, just one of the orbiter’s main gear tires could carry three times the load of a Boeing 747 tire or the entire starting line-up of a NASCAR race—40 cars, all hitting the pavement at 250 miles per hour.

*"My Solar System" by PlayMotion!
Have you hugged a planet today? Challenger Space Center’s newest interactive exhibit is made possible by a grant from the Tohono O’odham Nation. Visitors can catch and hold a virtual planet as bubbles appear with relevant science facts. CLICK HERE for a sneak peek!

Columbia Shuttle Memorial Display
On February 1, 2003, the world lost seven brave heroes; NASA lost seven family members and friends. When the space shuttle mission STS-107 ended in tragedy over the skies of the southwestern United States, the anguish of the loss was felt around the world, including here in Arizona. The people of Arizona came to the Challenger Space Center to remember the crew in their own ways. They left many items and tributes to the crew. In tribute to those who were lost, the Challenger Space Center has a small memorial display consisting of several items that were left at the Center in the days after the accident, as well as photos and several other items in memory of the crew.

ASU Meteorite Exhibit
The Challenger Space Center has received a variety of 13 meteorites on extended loan from the ASU Center for Meteorite Studies. Visitors to the Center have the opportunity to see this variety of samples collected all in one place.

Iridium Satellite Model
In 1987, a team of valley engineers from Motorola conceived the idea of creating a global wireless communications system – a digital satellite phone and paging network that would later be called the Iridium system. Motorola successfully launched 72 low-Earth orbiting satellites in just 12 months. Each satellite weighs 1500 pounds and circles the Earth at 17,500 miles an hour at an altitude of 485 miles. A permanent model of this satellite has been donated to the Center by Motorola and is now on display.

Robert McCall’s "Tour of the Universe" Mural
As visitors cross the elevated gantry bridge into the Center, the first sight they see is a six-story mural wrapping around the walls of our rotunda. This mural, painted by world-famous space artist, Robert McCall, encircles the entire interior rotunda of the main floor. Utilizing 27,000 square feet of canvas, this phenomenal piece of artistry took six months to complete. It is believed to be the largest mural in Arizona.

Atlantis Space Shuttle Model
This 10 foot high model of the Atlantis Space Shuttle was donated to the Challenger Space Center by Honeywell. Before finding a permanent home at the center, this model traveled around the country to different industry trade shows and educational events associated with Honeywell.

Journey Through the Space Program
The second floor of the Challenger Space Center has been re-organized to give visitors a chance to take a walk back through manned space flight. Starting with the current day space station and space shuttle, and stretching back past Skylab, Apollo, Mercury and Gemini, these displays offer a chance to see how much NASA has accomplished over the last several decades. Among these displays are included mission patches from every mission flown, and several other pictures and donated materials related to each of these programs.

Lowell Observatory Display
Currently on display at the Challenger Space Center, on extended loan from the Lowell observatory, are items relating to the study of the planet Mars by Percival Lowell and the discovery of Pluto by Clyde Tombaugh. More than 22 Ph.D. astronomers from around the world conduct their research work at the Lowell Observatory.

Theater Aviation Display
Several friends of the Challenger Space Center have donated space and aviation related lithographs and other photos, which are now on display in our theater for all visitors to enjoy.