Billed As New England's Only Air and Space Science Center
Be inspired, have fun and learn something new, in the spirit of
Christa McAuliffe and Alan Shepard. A new full-service science
center, the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, opens on March 6,
2009 in Concord, NH.
With a Mercury-Redstone rocket at the front entry and a
prominent observatory dome, New England's first air and space
science center will feature 45,000-square-feet of new interactive
science exhibits, an expanded gift shop, café, and theater
space. The new Discovery Center is a major transformation of the
Christa McAuliffe Planetarium. The first phase of this
transformation comes after 10 years of planning and
development.
The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center is a lively educational
science center featuring 21st century interactive exhibits on
aviation, astronomy, and Earth and space sciences, a
state-of-the-art planetarium and a variety of science and
engineering programs.
The engaging, robust educational programs are geared towards
families, teens, seniors, students, community groups, and lifelong
learners of all ages. The Discovery Center will also offer space
for conferences and special events, and a NASA Educator Resource
Center.
The 45,113-square-foot science center -- quadruple the size of
the original Christa McAuliffe Planetarium -- was designed by
Dignard Architectural Services of New Boston, NH. The principal of
the firm, Roger Dignard, was lead architect on the original
planetarium building when he worked for Lavallee-Brenginger in
Manchester, NH.
Visitors to the Discovery Center will be greeted by an outdoor
92-foot-tall Mercury-Redstone rocket. The interactive,
multi-sensory exhibit surrounding it tells the story of New
Hampshire hero Alan Shepard, his historic flight as the first
American in space on May 5, 1961 and the story of the Space Race
that inspired much of our current aerospace initiatives and high
technology spin-offs.
The Discovery Center will be constantly evolving. The completion
of the first phase of development marks the beginning of the
transformation. New simulation experiences and interactive exhibits
will be added to the science center periodically over the coming
months and years. Future additions include a Challenger Learning
Center, simulated flight school, interactive exhibits and engaging
programs on the physics of the universe, as well as traveling
exhibits from science centers across North America.
The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center honors the legacies of
two New Hampshire heroes and is a place for visitors to explore,
discover, and be inspired As the only air and space science center
in New England it welcomes all ages to have fun while learning
about the universe in which we live. The new McAuliffe-Shepard
Discovery Center features 21st century interactive exhibits on
aviation, astronomy, and Earth and space sciences, a
state-of-the-art planetarium and a variety of engaging
programs.
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