The Christa McAuliffe Planetarium, named for Concord’s Teacher in Space, has been providing science education in the area since 1990. The planetarium eventually grew into the McAuliffe-Shepard Space Center, which just received the Top Cap award for Best in Arts & Entertainment.
“The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center’s mission is to inspire every generation to reach for the stars, through engaging, artful and entertaining activities that explore astronomy, aviation, the Earth and space science,” said Visitor Services Coordinator Kelly Thompson.
Hear more from Thompson below:
Q: What’s your favorite part of the work you do? My favorite part about working at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center is connecting people to space and science every day. I love sharing about why we’re here, who we honor, all of our programs, and seeing visitors leave engaged and inspired.
Q: What role do you envision your business playing in the community? I see McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center as a catalyst for inspiration, learning and connection in our community. It’s not just a museum, playground or planetarium; it’s a place where families, students, businesses, and lifelong learners come together to explore space and science, honor New Hampshire’s own space pioneers and discover how STEM shapes their lives. We aim to be a launching pad to curiosity, sparking the next generation of explorers while supporting educators, volunteers and local organizations.
Q: What does winning Top Cap mean to you? Winning the Top Cap shows that our community values and believes in what we do. It celebrates our team’s dedication, raises our visibility and gives us momentum to continue inspiring curiosity and exploration every day.
Q: What’s something people might not know about you or your business? The Discovery Center is one of only four planetarium theaters in North America equipped with a 10K projection system! We have been enjoying utilizing the planetarium’s capabilities in a variety of new ways, like live performances, Under the Dome music shows and even gender reveals!
Q: Anything else you want to share? We’d love to invite the whole Greater Concord community to our annual AerospaceFest event, happening on Saturday, September 20, from 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Discovery Center! This event is FREE to the public and geared towards science enthusiasts, stargazers, explorers and learners of all ages!
AerospaceFest is the Discovery Center’s annual celebration of all things STEM and highlights the exciting ways local companies, universities, nonprofits and other organizations are contributing to science and education. These organizations will be spread around the Discovery Center’s grounds and exhibit halls, sharing their work with visitors through demonstrations, hands-on activities and discussions.
The event also includes the premiere of a new planetarium show, a talk from keynote speaker, educator and former Astronaut Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger and the presentation of the Alex Higgins Memorial Space Camp Scholarship to award winners.
Visit https://www.starhop.com/aerospacefest for details.