By Kathy L. Collins
Have you ever imagined what it would be like to travel to the moon and live and work there? MOSI (Museum of Science and Industry) in Tampa is pleased to be able to provide you with such an experience in their new, permanent exhibit- Mission: Moonbase.
Mission: Moonbase, which is funded in part by a grant from NASA, provides guests with the opportunity to experience NASA’s vision for living on worlds beyond earth. The exhibit opened in December and is located inside Kids in Charge!, MOSI’s children’s science center.
Visitors to Mission: Moonbase will explore exhibits that transport them to a lunar outpost located on the south pole of the moon. Visitors will become a member of a team living and working on the moon in the year 2070. According to MOSI, visitors will use an interactive immersive experience, enhanced with various augmented reality (AR) simulations and virtual views to the vast lunarscape. Participants will discover what is needed to thrive and maintain human habitation in a harsh environment.
While this exhibit is located in a children’s area, it is very intriguing to anyone. According to MOSI’s Shannon Herbon, “I would recommend it for anyone ages two to 92.” Herbon added, “Both children and adults have been completely enthralled with their trip to the moon. I heard people discussing how cool it was to watch the ‘transport’ leave Earth and fly to the moon.”
Wit Ostrenko, MOSI President said, “We are so grateful to NASA for helping fund such an immersive and fun exhibition. It’s an honor to support NASA’s education mission, while incorporating MOSI’s educational initiatives to develop STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) skills in students of all levels.”
Herbon added, “Mission: Moonbase provides guests an opportunity to experience NASA’s vision for living on worlds beyond Earth while keeping two feet on the ground.”
Admission to Mission: Moonbase is included in the MOSI admission. For further information, please visit www.mosi.org or call 987-6000. MOSI is located at 4801 E. Fowler Ave. in Tampa.
