Event name: NASM Field Trip
Event time and place: February 24, 2024 at The NASM
Exploring the Planets
This gallery goes over the different planets in our solar system, while explaining the technical side of how we gathered this information. This exhibit deals a lot with geology and engineering to display the information. It displays the general geological makeup of each planet, different autonomous vehicles we have sent to the planet to gather this information, and cameras/ telescopes we use to better understand the surface of the planet. There were minoritized replicas of rovers and cameras used for autonomous information gathering. Additionally, graphics of planets with text explained their geological composition. With a middle school understanding of Earth and Space science, most of the information can be comprehended and appreciated. This is due to the emphasis on geology and our solar system which are both taught in Earth Space Science. This exhibit was the most interactive we saw. There were examples of the different plant layers, with audio cues when a certain layer was touched. Additionally, you could feel the texture of planets and the different rocks that makeup them. I do not feel the interactive portion gave me a better understanding of the planets due to them not offering much additional information. However, they did transport me to the planet through touch and sound which while not specifically giving me more information, I felt like I better understood the planets.
Destination Moon
This gallery went over the science and technological advancements that made the Apollo program so successful. This includes previous missions such as Gemini that allowed for the Apollo missions. The exhibit displayed the massive F-1 engines used on the Saturn V for take-off, the command control module that the astronauts stayed in throughout the mission controlling the rocket, and astronaut gear that made maneuverability extremely difficult. They portrayed these technologies through the display of the physical objects in the museum. Additionally, the F-1 engine had small images, with tech specifications, that compared its size with a human for scale. This exhibit was meant for various ages but a high school understanding of physics helps you truly appreciate the exhibit. The museum offers technical specs and achievements that might be hard to grasp without basic physics knowledge. However, there are many interactive components for kids such as holding an astronaut's hand and video/ audio examples of the moon landing. These interactive effectively dumbed down the information so that a variety of people could understand, while allowing others new comparisons and examples to further their understanding of the moon landing. Writing can only say so much; interacting with what the text talks about opens a whole new world.
One World Connected
Unlike the previous gallery, this one focused more on Earth vs other planets in our solar system. It displayed the advance in technology that allows humans to transverse and communicate across the world, leading to a connected world. This has to deal with aerospace engineers and data communication. This exhibit displayed satellite communication networks, aircraft safety improvements, and global goods transportation. It conveyed this information through a global with orbiting satellites and airplane traffic. The exhibit also had miniature replicas of satellites and planes with descriptions of certain aspects, allowing for a better understanding. I feel like this exhibit is meant for all ages, there is no aspect, other than basic knowledge of the world, that limits someone from gathering knowledge from this exhibit. Interactive components also make it for all ages because they keep viewers entertained while they gather information. This exhibit had a wheel that you could spin with different transportation methods, where they were transporting, and what they were transporting that gave you whether or not it was feasible. This interactive displayed the complexity of shipping goods giving the user an understanding of the accomplishments that have been made to a connected world.
Astronomy
Throughout all the exhibits there were examples of astronomy, but as we continue to explore and understand more about the university these examples have to change. The astronomy integrated into the exhibit took that into account by mostly consisting of screens with information. This allowed information and graphics to be updated by just uploading them to the screen instead of replacing a whole sign. This had the added benefit of being more informative as well. What we know about astronomy is vast and a single graphic couldn’t display everything. Using a single screen can show a vague image of astronomy allowing the user to zoom into certain aspects for a better description.