exploratorium

After Dark: Made for Space

Thursday, July 11, 2019 • 6:00–10:00 p.m.

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Free for After Dark Members

Adults Only (18+)

Note: The Tactile Dome and some programs have limited capacity and are available to visitors on a first-come, first-served basis.

Lose yourself in over 650 interactive exhibits exploring perception, art, and science at our adults-only After Dark. Grab your friends and a drink and get immersed in mind-bending experiences and unique, thought-provoking programs.

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Featured Program

After Dark: Made for Space

Things designed and built for space exploration have come a long way from Sputnik and dehydrated orange drink. From spacesuits to rovers, come get some insight into what goes into creating the objects needed for cosmic travel. You’ll also want to sample the goods at Pairings: Dehydration, inspired by NASA’s efforts to make food and drink for zero-gravity environments.

Schedule

Presentations

Pairings: Food for Space
With Loretta Keller, Clay Reynolds, Adam Arkin, and Kevin Godes
7:00 p.m.  |  Fisher Bay Observatory Gallery 6
Note: To reserve a seat and something to eat, pick up free tickets onsite at the Observatory starting at 6:00pm. Seating is limited to 120.

People can travel to space, but they still have to eat when they get there—and the farther they go and the longer they stay, the more self-sufficient their food supply must be. Dehydrated foods are one way to keep everyone fed and (hopefully) happy—learn about the processes, flavors, and benefits of dehydrated food, both in space and on the trail here on Earth, with chef Loretta Keller and Kevin Godes. Look into the future of long-term food production in space with bioengineer Adam Arkin. And consider the role of dehydrated fruit in cocktails with beverage specialist Clay Reynolds. Just don't forget to sample an Añejo daiquiri making use of dehydrated lime. 

Photographing Apollo
With Michael Light
7:30 p.m.  |  Bechtel Gallery 3, Wattis Webcast Studio 

See the Apollo missions unfold through images the astronauts themselves made in space. Photographer Michael Light shares the story of the research and restoration of some of the 33,000 Apollo images he compiled into a book, Full Moon (1999). The publication offers a single composite journey to the moon and back, comprised of imagery from the nine Apollo missions, along with Earth orbital imagery from the Gemini missions—showing the moon as both a sublime desert and an embattled point of first human contact.

Mars Rovers
With Ron Hipschman
8:00 p.m.  |  Bechtel Gallery 3, Wattis Webcast Studio

Humans haven’t yet made it to Mars, but that hasn’t stopped us from sending robots—we call them rovers—to explore. So, why rovers? What are they doing up there?  Come learn about the history of the exploration of Mars and the rovers doing the work on the ground. 

Space Inspirations
With Mary Roach and Adam Savage
9:00 p.m.  |  Bechtel Gallery 3, near Museum of The Moon

Between Adam Savage’s personal collection of spacesuits and Mary Roach’s book Packing For Mars, the curiosity and excitement that these two share for space is contagious. Join them in conversation as they explore what makes the final frontier so exciting.

Ongoing

Lost and Found Space Movies
With Cinema Arts
6:00–7:30 and 8:30–10:00 p.m.  |  Bechtel Gallery 3, Wattis Webcast Studio

Around the time of the launch of Sputnik, excitement around the space race compelled amateur filmmakers to craft their own celestial and science fiction stories made with more love than production values. These charming shorts capture the thrill and wonder of the flight of our collective imaginations in space, and they’ve recently been discovered and preserved. Come enjoy the spirit of these movies made by non-professional filmmakers.

Museum of The Moon
By Luke Jerram
6:00–10:00 p.m.  |  Bechtel Gallery 3

Wonder at the majesty of the moon brought down to Earth: suspended in our own Bechtel Gallery 3, Museum of the Moon is a 16-foot photorealistic sculpture of the moon featuring high-resolution NASA imagery that shows every cliff and crater. Created by UK artist Luke Jerram, Museum of the Moon encourages surprising, intimate connections with the astronomical world and with fellow visitors.

Land Your Own Rover 
With Explorables 
7:00–10:00 p.m.  |  Gallery 2

When it takes months to reach your destination and millions of dollars to build a rover, you want to make sure it lands safely. Can you do the same on a smaller scale? Take the Explorables team challenge and build your own capsule to protect a “rover” (raw egg) from a second-story drop. 

Paper Rockets
With Explorables 
7:00–10:00 p.m.  |  Gallery 2

Rocket design is as simple as…rocket science! See how high your rocket can launch with the help of a plastic tube, a water bottle, and an enthusiastic stomp.

Sewn Scenarios

6:30–9:30 p.m.

Think of any scenario. Using five words or less, describe it in a sentence. Now watch as artist PNosa interprets your words and uses a sewing machine to draw your idea on fabric. Embroidered patches will be available for purchase.

Tactile Dome

$10

6:15–10:00 p.m.
Osher Gallery 1

Journey through total darkness in this twisting, turning, tactile sculpture. Walk, crawl, climb, and slide your way through a wonderland of textures using only your sense of touch as a guide.

Please Note: Due to the nature of this experience, certain restrictions apply. Guests who are afraid of the dark; claustrophobic; have back, neck, or knee injuries; or are in their third trimester of pregnancy should not participate. Guests wearing casts are prohibited. Also, please wear comfortable clothes.

You can reserve tickets for our 6:15 and 7:00 p.m. sessions. We also operate drop-in, first-come, first-served sessions at 7:45, 8:30, and 9:15 p.m.; tickets can be purchased at the Information Desk.

Learn more about the Tactile Dome.

Explainer Demonstrations

6:00–9:45 unless noted
Various locations throughout the museum

Drawing Board
Ticketing at 6:00 p.m., first come, first served
Osher Gallery 1

Draw hypnotically flowing patterns with a swinging table, and watch friction cause the patterns to slowly shrink along a spiral path. Pick up a ticket to reserve your spot in line for this popular activity.

Speaker Dissection
Bechtel Gallery 3

Tune in to surrounding sounds by experimenting with strings and vibrations, and use electromagnets to build a basic speaker. Learn how to listen with your bones, and explore the workings of the inner ear.

Van de Graaff Generator
With the Explainers
6:00–9:00 p.m.
Bechtel Gallery 3

Get ready to have your hair stand on end (literally). Experience our electrostatic generator firsthand—with high-voltage direct-current electricity turned down to low current levels, our Van de Graaff generator both will, and won’t, shock you. Please keep your hands on the sphere until our Explainers tell you to let go!

Cow Eye or Flower Dissection (alternating)
Gallery 4

Do cows see color? How does a lens work? Examine the intricate structure of a cow eye to learn about similar structures in our own eyes, as well as some key differences.

Stigma, stamen, pistil, anther, style: Uncover the beautiful architecture of flower anatomy, and gather some surprising strategies that plants use to reproduce.

Magic Demonstration
Osher Gallery 1

Everything is not as it seems—at first. Pick a card, any card, and watch the Explainers reveal some surprising aspects of human perception.