Space Odyssey Reimagined: Transformation Will Launch in Late 2020

Fast Facts:

Space Odyssey closed on Thursday, March 19.
The Planetarium will be temporarily closed at some point during construction—we'll keep you posted.
Continue to explore space science during construction with a variety of activities in the Museum and programs for adults and families.
Join us on this mission. Make a gift today.
Watch for the grand reopening in November 2020!

Strap on your space helmet, Space Odyssey is about to undergo a major transformation. With our community as the inspiration, the exhibition will be revitalized with innovative experiences that fuel discovery about the world—and what lies beyond.

The new Space Odyssey is designed to be as captivating as space itself, where science, nature, art, technology and wonder are seamlessly integrated into an unforgettable opportunity to foster a deeper, and enduring, understanding and appreciation of our home planet and the universe.

Listening to our communities has revealed that their curiosity about space science isn't driven by what we know, but how we know it. The new Space Odyssey will be a quest for knowledge and a platform for you and your family to create your own connections to the things about space you find most personal and compelling.

Imagine this…you will now be able to find out what space smells like! How can we know this? In fact, how do scientists know anything about space?

In the new Space Odyssey, you will discover that the light reaching us from space is an incredibly rich smorgasbord of information and that you, and all humans, are incredibly gifted detectives who can solve the mysteries surrounding the age, temperature, gravity, mass, size and, yes, smell of space.

While the entire gallery will be transformed, some familiar elements will remain, including the Mars diorama and Science on the Sphere. The area surrounding Gates Planetarium will become a "Fantasy Spaceship," where imagination, art, science and stories meld together to create a rich environment to inspire thinking and reflection—and offer some unexpected surprises.

Throughout Space Odyssey, new activities and exhibits for all ages will revolve around five themes, each focused on "a way of knowing" about space, Earth, ourselves and our shared humanity:

Human Wonder: We learn by imagining what is out there.
Space from Earth: We learn by gazing at the stars.
Machines in Space: We learn by sending machines beyond our reach.
Earth from Space: We learn by examining our own world from space.
People in Space: We learn by traveling to space ourselves.
Beyond Human Wonder: We learn by imagining what remains to be discovered.

Together, these big ideas will help bring into focus the story of space that has captivated the human imagination since people began looking up at the sky and wondering, "What's out there?"

Not only will you feel and understand what is happening beyond our planet and how it is relevant to your life, but it will also catalyze the next generation of explorers, problem solvers, creative strategists and analytical thinkers.

Watch for more information in upcoming issues of Catalyst and stay up to date on our website.

The transformation of Space Odyssey was made possible with support from many donors, including Mark & Martha Freeman, Institute of Museum and Library Services, Lockheed Martin, Blair & Kristin Richardson and M. Patrick & Jo Ann Swingle.

You can help ensure we can continue to change and adapt to meet the needs of our visitors. Contact DMNS Advancement at development@dmns.org or 303.370.8262 to explore some of the giving options that are available to you.

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