Suit up and strap in! The Science Museum of Virginia is blasting guests into the cosmos this summer with the touring exhibition “Space: An Out-of-Gravity Experience.”

Showcasing how astronauts live and work, “Space” opens Saturday, May 27, and runs through Labor Day. It features dozens of hands-on stations letting guests explore the extraordinary environment of space, including the dangers humans face during their missions and adaptations engineers have developed to help them survive. Unlike many space exhibitions that focus on the history of cosmic adventures, “Space” looks to the future, both in what scientific innovations will be needed and what considerations are involved when (not if!) we construct a colony on Mars.

“While many of us have probably imagined what it’s like to live in space, very few humans ever get the chance to go,” said Science Museum Astronomer Justin Bartel. “This exhibition offers the next-best experience to engage in that exciting journey in an immersive way.”

We were invited to the media preview of the Science Museum of Virginia’s latest touring exhibition “Space: An Out-of-Gravity Experience.” Photos and a little commentary below. Tickets an more information at the Science Museum’s website reached by the first link above.

The vast majority of exhibits are interactive. For obvious reasons, some dramatic pieces of history are hands-off.

Yes, the space toilet is interactive but no you don’t get to test it out. The metal bars towards the front keep you from floating away while taking care of business.

There are videos throughout with astronauts giving details on the subject matter. The one about the bathroom was surprisingly detailed and informative. When viewing with children and immature adults (i.e. me) expect giggles.

Witness the impact of a meteoroid and how NASA deals with the potential danger.

I liked the space station dollhouse way more than a 50+ year old man should of. Luckily Hans, Sebastian, and Lucy all survived their adventures in my mind.

Space food!!! Space cookies!!! The video for this station was fascinating.

Speaking of food you can handle jars of peanut butter (no actual peanuts so no allergy worries) to feel the weight difference.

As you’d expect gravity is a big player in the exploration of space and the exhibits teach about it in a variety of creative ways. Most stations (not this one) allow for multiple folks to explore and learn so should be nice even if crowded.

Tangent Alert: The space station pictured above was created by NASA Ames Research Center, maybe Donald Davis but several artists were used and I couldn’t find any artist credit. In the 1970’s NASA started contemplating cities in space. One idea such as pictured above was the Stanford Torus. There is a fascinating article about the art and theories on a space city in this article by Bloomberg, NASA’s Groovy Concept Art for the Orbiting Cities of the Future.

This doughnut-shaped colony was much smaller, with an inside ring diameter of one mile compared to the cylindrical colony’s 4 miles, but was still expansive enough to promote the growth of a vibrant space society.

Just what kind of society it would be is an open question. NASA thought of all kinds of possible uses for orbiting cities, from penal institutions to refuges for political dissidents to friendly environments for the disabled, where paraplegics could zoom around on ADA-compliant hovercrafts. The space agency called these cities the “ultimate gated community,” explaining:

On Earth it is essential that diverse groups learn to live in close proximity. It’s hard to live with five or six billion homo sapiens, and some people can’t seem to do it gracefully. Space settlements offer an alternative to changing human nature or endless conflict – the ability to live in fairly homogeneous groups, as has been the norm throughout hundreds of thousands of years of human existence. Those who can’t get along can be separated by millions of miles of hard vacuum, which in some cases seems necessary. All entry into a space settlement must be through an airlock, so controlling immigration should be trivial.

Propulsion can be very pretty. Not able to catch much of the arcing electricity but trust me it’s cool.

I’m not saying I could kick butt in the robotic arm, only using the camera, Olympics but I’d definitely be in the running.

The centerpiece of the exhibit was the two sections of the International Space Station’s, Destiny Lab. In order to simulate conditions, you stand on a walkway and the sections move around you. It’s very disconcerting at first and especially if you look towards the end. No real way to capture this feeling it must be experienced.

The view from the International Space Station is pretty nice.

“Space” is available through a combination ticket that includes access to the Science Museum’s regular exhibitions, labs and demos. Admission is $22 for adults; $19 for youth (ages 6-12) and seniors (ages 60 and older); and $15 for preschool-aged children (ages 3-5). Discounts are available for teachers, military personnel and through the Museums for All program. Science Museum members receive unlimited free admission to the Science Museum and the touring exhibition. Guests may purchase tickets on the Science Museum’s website or in person at Guest Services when they arrive.

The wait is over! The Science Museum of Virginia has opened its new community greenspace called The Green. With the trees planted, art sculpture installed and pathways poured, the public can start enjoying the urban park’s natural beauty as well as environmental and health benefits.

“Richmond needs more greenspace, and we’re proud to showcase examples of natural solutions to address the impacts of climate change,” said Chief Wonder Officer Richard Conti. “We can’t wait to see guests, neighbors and community members enjoying The Green’s robust ecosystems and blooming native plants, and we look forward to watching that connection and engagement deepen as we complete the remaining work of greening our campus.”

The Green has been in the works for more than five years. After completing interior enhancements, Science Museum leadership looked outside the building and made plans to enrich campus features.

Work on the newly opened section of The Green included removing two acres of asphalt parking lot and replacing it with native vegetation, walking paths, sleek lighting, unique interpretation and benches. In total, thousands of native plants will play a key role in achieving The Green’s design goals and desired benefits. A tree-lined allée paralleling Broad Street will enhance the pedestrian experience along this busy thoroughfare while buffering traffic activity, sequestering carbon and managing stormwater.

The Green aligns with the city’s Richmond 300 development plan, which prioritizes green infrastructure for Greater Scott’s Addition. As one of the fastest-growing, high-density, mixed-use neighborhoods in the city, the district has one of the lowest levels of urban tree cover in Richmond. Transitioning parts of the Science Museum’s campus from gray to green helps mitigate the urban heat island effect in the Scott’s Addition area.

Opening the section of The Green in front of the parking deck gets the Science Museum another step closer to accomplishing the goal of having more than half of the 37-acre campus as greenspace. When the full project is realized in several years, the Science Museum will have more than 20 acres of greenspace surrounding the historic building along Broad Street.

In addition to opening The Green, the Science Museum is also celebrating the debut of the large, STEM-inspired art feature called Cosmic Perception which sits inside the park. Featuring 50 protruding white spires — steel triangle-shaped tubes shooting outward and upward like a burst originating from a single point — guests can travel around and through the dynamic original sculpture to experience how the dichroic-glass kaleidoscopes offer an unexpected view of the urban environment and natural world.

Photo Credit: Science Museum of Virginia

The Science Museum’s Foundation has been actively fundraising for The Green. Nearly 200 supporters have donated to the effort. In addition, the organization met the $500,000 challenge grant from the Mary Morton Parsons Foundation ahead of schedule, and secured another $250,000 challenge grant from the Cabell Foundation.

“The speed with which we’ve raised the funds, and the continued support from organizations and individuals, shows the positive reception we’ve had to adding new greenspace in our neighborhood,” Conti said. “Opening the first section now gives community members the chance to explore and experience the gathering space as we continue to move on to other enhancements.”

The Science Museum partnered with Glave & Holmes Architecture on The Green. The space will be open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Guests are invited to relax, play, eat and exercise in the greenspace. Leashed pets are welcome with responsible owners who clean up after their furry friends.

The Science Museum will start working on the parcel directly in front of its building later this fall. The plans build on efforts in the newly opened section of The Green, including removing hardscape, continuing the allée along Broad Street and adding native plants to give the campus a cohesive feel.

For more information about The Green, please visit smv.org/thegreen.

Rumors were afloat yesterday of the sudden shutdown of Richmond’s bike share program. The rumor became reality when the city sent out the following press release.

Due to a last-minute, two day notice and shut down by Bewegen Technologies, the city was forced to suspend the current bicycle rental system until a new software system is in place.

Bicycles will not be available to rent while the City secures a new contractor. In the meantime, the City encourages bike share users to utilize the three e-scooter vendors – Bird, Lime, and Spin.

Once the new bike share system is operational, the City will welcome users back with free rides for everyone for 30 days.

The City is diligently working to resolve the situation and we appreciate our residents and visitors patience as we go through this transitional phase.

For more information, please visit us online at rva.gov/public-works or email us at [email protected]