Launching Our Future: The Space Center's Role in Creating a Space-Faring Civilization. The Imaginairum Theater

Building the Future Since 1990:  The Original Magellan Simulator (2004)

I believe the Space Center’s primary mission is to help us become a space-faring civilization. When you think about that goal, it can feel as vast as the universe itself. It’s going to take immense work and dedication to reach the stars, but every great journey begins with a single step. At the Space Center, we are here to help students take those first steps using a simple roadmap: Imagine, Believe, Learn, and Do.

The Voyager Simulator (2004)

The Four Steps to a New Frontier

1. IMAGINE the Possibilities. Every great achievement started as a "what if." At the Space Center, we don’t just talk about the future; we let you live it. Our high-tech simulators are where science and science fiction work hand in hand. When students step onto a simulated bridge, they are embarking on a futuristic mission that blends the wonder of a story with science. We use these adventures to show that the "impossible" is actually just a challenge waiting to be solved.

2. BELIEVE it can be Done. Imagination needs fuel. The power of belief gives us the energy to take action. It’s the spark that turns a "dream" into a "plan." When a student sees themselves successfully navigating a starship in our simulators, they start to believe it can be done in real life.

3. LEARN the Way. This is where the hard work begins. Once we imagine a goal and believe we can reach it, we must study the science, math, and technology to make it real. Education is the bridge between a dream and a reality.  

4. DO the Work. This is where the magic happens. This is where learning leads to action: building, testing, and launching. We make it so!

Volunteers and Staff Create the Magic (2004)

Why the Space Center Matters

The Space Center is uniquely positioned to spark Step One for thousands of people every year.

A young student on a field trip might walk away dreaming of navigating the cosmos or building a computer as powerful as our simulators. That spark of desire follows them home, turning into a lifelong passion for discovery.

Through the Space Center's camps and volunteer program, students can experience all four steps in the process to create the future we envision.  

Today's Space Center, Built on a Strong Foundation of Its Past,

Leading Today's Generations Into the Future

 

The "Fuel" for Our Mission

There is an old saying at NASA: "No Bucks, No Buck Rogers." It’s a simple way of saying that without funding and public support, there are no space programs and no astronaut heroes. We want our students to carry their enthusiasm into adulthood. We want them to become "space-enthusiast voters" who understand that exploring the stars is a vital part of our future.

Today, the mission to explore space requires more than just scientists; it requires a public that believes in the journey. By inspiring the next generation today, we are ensuring that the future of space exploration is protected and celebrated tomorrow.

Let’s reach for the stars—together.

Mr. Williamson

Imaginairum Theater

The Week's Best Vides From Around the World, Edited for a Gentler Audience