The Museum of Flight in Seattle is set to open a new exhibit titled “Home Beyond Earth” on June 8, focusing on the past, present, and future of space stations. The exhibit will feature over 50 artifacts, models, and space-flown objects, providing visitors with a glimpse into what life might be like living and working in space.
Geoff Nunn, the exhibit developer and year-round space curator at the Museum of Flight, highlighted the timeliness of the topic as NASA and its international partners are looking to hand off operations of long-term activity in space to private space station companies. With the ISS set to be retired around 2030, several companies are developing successors that will be privately owned and operated, potentially changing how we live and work in space in the next decade.
The exhibit will explore the cultural influences and human fascination with living and working in space, going beyond the STEM aspect. It will showcase scale models of historic and conceptual space stations, inflight garments, and artifacts that have flown in space, such as the award-winning Space Cup designed for NASA.
Visitors will also have the opportunity to personalize their journey through digital cards or tokens, pick a space station of their choice, and receive space travel posters as souvenirs. The exhibit aims to provide a comprehensive look at the evolution of space stations from early science fiction stories to the current ISS and beyond.
For those curious about the experience of living and working in space, “Home Beyond Earth” offers a unique opportunity to explore the possibilities and challenges of space exploration. The exhibit will run through January 20, 2025, inviting visitors to imagine a future beyond Earth’s boundaries.