The Insider goes to space

By Ben Conant - Aug 16, 2011 | 0 comments

Eleven-year-old Logan Putnam shows off his model plane, designed after an F-10 jet.

Camper Cole Forkey, 6, stretches to put another piece of memory in the tube as he climbs the “Memory Wall,” part of the Center’s current “Beyond Images” exhibit.

From left, Will, Jake and Greg Behrendt learn how to count and write in binary. You’ve almost got it!

David McDonald, the center’s director of education, stands with the shell of an airplane.

In space, no one can hear you pee! Space toilets need special bars to hold you in place while you do your space business.

A “Manned Maneuvering Unit,” used to take a space walk without being attached to a shuttle or space station.

When you're a little kid, there are only a few professions you could imagine being when you grow up. Cowboy? Princess, perhaps? Maybe a baseball player? One that always seems to make that short list is astronaut. Flying around in space, floating in zero gravity and hanging out with David Bowie, the life of a spaceman (or spacewoman) seems pretty sweet. Mecca for the Granite State's aspiring astronauts must be the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, located at 2 Institute Drive. You can't miss it; it's the building with a giant Mercury-Redstone rocket parked out front.

The planetarium has been a Concord staple for years, drawing schoolchildren from around the state to take in the wonders of the galaxy. With a 2009 expansion quadrupling the center's size, there is no shortage of space (pun!) for the dozens of exhibits and artifacts displayed within.

Ever controlled the rotation of a planet with your fingertips? Walked across the surface of the sun (not in the context of a Smashmouth concert)? Landed a spaceship? You can do all that and more at the Discovery Center. Whether you attend one of the youth summer camps, go with a school group or just drop by (the center is open seven days a week), there is plenty going on. The planetarium plays six shows every day, taking viewers on a wild ride through the cosmos from the comfort of a theater seat.

“I believe we offer more planetarium shows than any other planetarium,” David McDonald, the center's director of education, said.

Right now, the center has 16 different planetarium shows to choose from, including their lastest addition, “Space Pirates,” which is just the most recent of the center's continuously expanding range of programming.

“We're constantly evolving,” Education Coordinator Tiffany Nardino said. “We're coming up with new exhibits and new activities.”

Through September, center visitors can check out an array of displays in the “Beyond Images” exhibit. The travelling exhibit made its first U.S. appearance here at the Discovery Center. It's composed of several hands-on displays that teach the evolution of computer science and virtual reality, among other things.

Suzanne Behrendt and her family live in Severn, Md., about 15 miles out of Baltimore. Living that close to the big city, there is simply too much light pollution to see the stars. So, every summer Suzanne brings her family to the Discovery Center while they vacation in New Hampshire, and her children get a chance to explore the galaxy.

“I think it's important for kids to be excited about science,” Behrendt said. “I think our country has gone by the wayside when it comes to math and science, so anything that gets them excited about it is a good thing.”

In the wake of state budget cuts, the Discovery Center finds itself with approximately half a million dollars less in state funding for next year, a significant chunk of its $1.9 million budget. With the public face of NASA that we all know, the space shuttle program, all but dismantled, some might point to a partially state-funded facility like the Discovery Center as an easy thing to cut during these tough economic times. But, with the recently formed Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate pledging to put astronauts on Mars by 2035, the future of American space exploration is still a vibrant one.

“The people that will be sent on those first missions to Mars are still in school today,” Nardino said. What better way to follow in the groundbreaking footsteps of Christa McAuliffe and Alan Shepard than to launch a lifetime love of space at the Discovery Center?

Upcoming events
Check out what the Discovery Center has on its radar.

Aug. 17, 10 a.m. – Little Explorers:
“Our Solar System”
 Learn about the planets of the solar system and make and take one home! For 3 to 4-year-olds, child must be accompanied by an adult who can help the child complete tasks. One child and one adult combo $10, $5 each additional child/adult.

Aug. 19, 7 p.m. – Super Stellar Friday:
“Family Night”
Enjoy a night out with the family with a special feature of planetarium show “Our Place in Space”! There will be fun demonstrations for all ages and craft activities. Topics include the space shuttle and what it is like to live and work in space. Then – check out the Discovery Center’s own observatory! $9 adult, $6 child (3-12), $8 student/senior. Free for members.

Aug. 22, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Blood Drive
Help save a life! The American Red Cross Blood Services will be hosting a blood drive between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center. Positive ID is required. For more information, go to newenglandblood.org.

Aug. 26, 7 p.m. Super Stellar Friday:
“Extreme Paper Airplanes”
Not your run-of-the-mill paper airplane toss – learn how to design your own experimental paper aircraft using real aerodynamic principles! Learn the fundamentals of flight as Discovery Center intern aeronautical engineering major Adam Mistretta shows you how to create and fly your own plane. Helicopters will also be introduced! $9 adult, $6 child (3-12), $8 student/senior. Free for members.

Aug. 27, 9 a.m. 4K Rocket Race
The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center will host the 4K Rocket Race on Aug. 27. All proceeds support the educational mission of the Discovery Center and bring the wonder of space and aviation sciences into the community and classroom. Prizes will be awarded to the top three overall winners, top 3 winners in all 12 categories (walkers included), post race refreshments, music, massages, rocket launches, telescope viewing, entertainment & more. A Starhop 1K fun run will take place at 9:45 a.m. and all kids win a prize. First 100 4K registrants receive a t-shirt. Visit starhop.com for registration application and more details.

Sept. 30, 7 p.m. Super Stellar Friday:
“The Space Shuttle: End of an Era”
Join author, historian, and pilot Ted Spitzmiller as we review three exciting decades of shuttle flights. What was the space shuttle designed to do? Did it achieve its goals? What lies ahead for human space flight? His two-book series, Astronautics, a definitive history of humanity’s exploration of space, will be offered for purchasing and signing after the program. $9 Adult, $6 Child (3-12), $8 Student/Senior. Free for members.

Oct. 22, 6 p.m. 2nd Annual Galaxy Gala
Touch the Future Inc. presents the second annual Galaxy Gala to benefit the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center on Oct. 22. The gala will feature fine food, entertainment, and a silent and live auction with professional auctioneer Kathy Kingston. Check back for updates on new auction items – which include a pair of tickets to the Red Sox 100th year opening day! More coming soon!
If you would like to donate an item or receive more information, contact Kathleen Regan at 271-7827, ext. 118, or kregan@starhop.com.