Interactive Learning Zones
Space Gallery
Embark on an Epic Journey Through the Cosmos. Step into an immersive, cutting-edge gallery where guests become interplanetary explorers. Create your own black hole, colonize Mars, and unravel the mysteries of gravity. Take the controls of NASA’s Mars rover Perseverance, pilot the groundbreaking Mars helicopter Ingenuity, or virtually drill into an asteroid to collect core samples. With interactive touch-screen simulations and live mission data streaming from space, this hands-on experience brings the excitement and complexity of space exploration to life. From daring planetary missions to the frontiers of astrophysics, discover what it takes to explore—and thrive—in the final frontier.
Adventures in Early Learning: The SPACE
At the Virginia Air and Space Science Center, young explorers are transported into a world where they can dream big—and become even bigger. From piloting a digital aircraft to performing a space mission surgery, the possibilities are as vast as the universe itself. In the immersive Early Learners Gallery, children dive into the fundamentals of engineering by designing and building their own creations. They can climb through the clouds to the second floor, craft a digital airplane and watch it soar, take the controls as a junior pilot, or even operate on an astronaut during a simulated space mission. Every exhibit sparks curiosity, creativity, and the thrill of discovery—igniting the belief that they, too, can one day become pilots, engineers, inventors, or astronauts.
Digital Airplane Studio
In the Digital Airplane Studio, creativity takes flight as visitors step into the role of aerospace engineers and artists. Guests can design their own unique aircraft, customizing colors, and features. Once complete, they scan in their hand-colored plane and watch as it transforms on the big screen—taxiing down a virtual runway before soaring across a sky filled with others’ creations. This immersive experience blends art with science, technology, engineering, and math (STEAM), empowering learners of all ages to explore key aerodynamic principles like lift, thrust, and drag. By combining imagination with innovation, the Digital Airplane Studio inspires a deeper understanding of how real-world aircraft are engineered for performance, stability, and efficiency.