Three…Two…One…We Have Lift Off at the Arizona Science Center

Three…Two….One….We have lifted off at the Arizona Science Center. “Social Distancing 2021.” Not a term I thought I would still be using, but this year seems to be a little different than last year. As we adjust to our new norm many businesses are starting to open their doors to customers. The Arizona Science Center Grand Opening is “Out Of This World” literally. Keeping safety in mind as we navigate through this pandemic, the centers latest exhibit explores life of the astronauts. One of the centers safety measures to ensure social distancing is to limit the number of people entering the museum and staggering time slots for exhibits. They also are following CDC guidelines that recommend wearing masks to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Being a mom of three, twin toddlers and a six year old, I am finding it necessary to spend quality alone time with my oldest. He went from being an only child, to one of three. The past two years have been a mix of excitement and difficulties. Having twins is a new experience but having one with special needs can really make adjusting hard on everyone. Then add a global pandemic, school shutdowns, no more playdates, social gatherings, or birthday parties, and these are just a few of the things that shook up this past year for us.

Now that we have this opportunity to spend “Mommy and Son” time out, what better way than exploring Outer Space. I let the experience be a surprise as he has not been to the Arizona Science Center in a few years. I was pleasantly surprised by the low volume of people. They had hand sanitizing stations and wipes throughout. We started at the top level where you can explore exhibits about the weather and “DIRT.” This is also where you can find the feature exhibit “Astronauts has landed,” on display until May 31, 2021. 

The Space exhibit was very informative and full of exciting activities. They have 26 exhibits discussing life as an astronaut. You can experience lift off in the pilot seat. You can also attempt to reach 0 gravity by twirling around in a small capsule, or at least get really dizzy. My son really enjoyed the flight simulation, so much that he did it multiple times. I tried to make him dizzy but he said it didn’t work.

There was so much to learn about the mental and physical preparation that goes into traveling out of space. We sometimes don’t think about what it is actually like for the astronaut in space. Learning about how they survive and their living arrangements was also something I never really thought about. We learned about growing plants in space in an attempt for astronauts to sustain their overall health and nutrition. The one question I have never thought of or asked was, “where do they potty?” I guess 0 gravity and urine would not mix well floating around in space. Yes! The exhibit features an astronauts potty. How do astronauts brush their teeth? Great question you can find this out at the exhibit as well. 

Ever wondered how much you would weigh on other planets? Well the scales might make you a little happy on other planets. I did not weigh myself but my son was excited to see how his weight fluctuates. So how do Astronauts stay healthy on the spacecraft? Well they exercise of course. Check out the unique ways Astronauts maintain their physical health and muscle strength while floating out of this world. 

When you are ready to return to earth don’t forget to check out Arizona Science Center permanent exhibits. They have interactive human body exhibits which happens to be my favorite. I always enjoy this area every time I go. Ever wondered how a house is built? Well you can enjoy learning about this and more. This was the first time we got to see a live demonstration in their lab theater. We enjoyed watching the scientist demonstrate fire safely. You can also enjoy watching Astronauts featured in their Irene P. Flinn Theater Don’t forget to visit the Dorrance Planearium for an amazing experience with 360 degree views. There is a lot to do and everyone will definitely have fun learning something new. So if you are ready to lift off, visit the astronauts space exhibit.