Event name: National Air and Space Museum

Event time and place: February 24, 2024 at the National Air and Space Museum


Image from the NASM!

These answers were formulated using the following questions:

  • (1) What field(s) of science and aspect(s) of aerospace science or technology is presented? Be specific!
  • (2) What specific concepts, discoveries, or inventions are portrayed? Select three (3) such examples from EACH gallery.
  • (3) How does the gallery convey information relevant to 2 above: give specific examples of specimens, drawings, texts, graphics, etc.
  • (4) What education level do you think the hall is aimed at, and why?
  • (5) To what degree does the exhibit include “interactive components” (e.g., hands-on activities, computers, etc.)? [If the hall doesn’t, please suggest an interactive component they could use!]
  • (6) Do you find that the interactive components were effective at conveying the information? If yes, explain how (using specifics); if no, explain why not (again, using specifics). [If N/A, put N/A]

    First Exhibit: One World Connected

    This exhibit seemed to pertain mainly to the natural sciences, like biology, physics, and environmental science. Some specific concepts, discoveries, or inventions that were portrayed in this exhibit included:

  • (1) Discoveries that our expanding networks across the globe could result in a loss of culture.
  • (2) As humans continue to progress we will make more and better innovations.
  • (3) Satellites built for Mexico, Indonesia, and other nations broadcast their own educational and cultural programming.
    • The discovery of the expanding networks portrays this concept by asking and giving evidence for both arguments that these networks will either bring us closer together or push us further apart. The satellite exhibit talks about how satellites transmit long-distance signals, and how that can help less advanced nations. This exhibit could be for the elementary school level of education because the concepts are very easy to follow and there are a lot of visual components to the gallery. The gallery had an interactive globe that showed the flight paths of birds and planes. It shows WiFi signal ranges, and the paths other animals including aquatic animals take. The interactive components within the exhibit were effective because it shows how different natural and artificial components of our world interact and overlap.

    Second Exhibit: Exploring the Planets

    This exhibit spoke about the chemistry and physics of planets, comets, and the space craft used to explore the planets on our solar system. Some specific concepts, discoveries, or inventions that were portrayed in this exhibit included:

  • (1) Mariner 10 returned data about mercury and Venus.
  • (2) People used to believe life could be on any planets, but probes helped change that view.
  • (3) The Mars Rover, Perseverance took samples and conducted research on Mars.
    • The Mars Rover exhibit has life-sized replicas and they have a life-sized replica of the Mariner 10 hanging above the gallery, both of which converys the information of how these missions would have actually looked like. This exhibit seems to be more for children at a middle school level because the concepts can still seem confusing to younger children. There were not too many interactive parts in this gallery. Maybe there could have been an interactive video or slideshow that showcased the different parts of the Saturn V rocket. The components were effective at conveying the information because they accurately portray what a rocky exoplanet would feel like.

    Third Exhibit: Destination Moon

    This exhibit talked a lot about the physics and engineering required to reach the moon.Some specific concepts, discoveries, or inventions that were portrayed in this exhibit included:

  • (1) The exhibit showed the differences in rocket power.
  • (2) Parts of the Saturn rockets were recovered by Jeff Bezos.
  • (3) Humans on the Gemini missions proved that humans could live in space for long periods of time.
    • The rocket power exhibit showed the approximate thrusting power each rocket had and had miniature replicas of the rockets. The pieces of the thrusters from the Saturn rockets were on display. This exhibit could appeal to the elementary school level of education or lower because a majority of the gallery was conceptual. There were not too many interactive parts in this gallery. Maybe there could have been an interactive video or slideshow that showcased the different parts of the Saturn V rocket.

    Additional Question

    Astronomy is a difficult subject to portray in museums and is a field in which new discoveries are being made all the time, sometimes greatly changing our previous understanding. How did the exhibit designers portray astronomical concepts and how (if at all) they tried to make updated information available to the visitors?

    The exhibit had different manned stations where staff would explain certain astronomical concepts to anyone who went up to the stations. These stations seemed as though they were primarily for children, but the concepts were explained well enough that essentially any age could understand them.