ORLANDO, Fla. – As NASA prepares to launch its Artemis II mission, a new interactive exhibit at the Orlando Science Center invites guests to experience what it’s like to live and work in space.
Presented by Florida Tech, Mission: Astronaut features six immersive zones where guests can train like astronauts, conduct experiments, and explore the future of space travel.
Visitors begin in “Welcome to Training,” meeting astronaut mentors who teach essential teamwork skills. In “Prepare for Space,” they tackle rocket science, pack a capsule, and simulate docking at a space station, learning aerospace engineering hands-on.
“Living in Space” shows the challenges of daily life in microgravity, from cooking to sleeping. In “Science in Space,” guests run experiments, monitor health, and grow plants like those that could support future Mars missions.
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In “Space Operations,” visitors act as Mission Specialists, operating robotic arms, building spacesuits, and learning spacecraft repair. Finally, “The Future of Space Exploration” invites guests to design habitats for astronauts on distant planets, encouraging creativity and imagination. Mission: Astronaut turns curiosity into action, inspiring explorers to reach beyond the sky.
The exhibit also complements the new space-themed art show, Space for Art, in the Fusion: A STEAM Gallery. Curated by astronaut and artist Nicole Stott, the show features artwork from astronauts, NASA scientists, and young artists worldwide, including a spacesuit covered with more than 800 pieces of children’s artwork.
Mission: Astronaut is designed to be accessible and bilingual and is included with general admission and free for members through May 3.
For ticket information, click here.
Last week, the Artemis II moon rocket was rolled out to the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center. The 322-foot rocket is set for a crewed lunar fly-around mission, the first in over 50 years, with a potential launch as early as February.
The mission will carry four astronauts on a 10-day trip around the moon, marking a major step in NASA’s Artemis program to return humans to the lunar surface.