I went to the National Air and Space Museum at Dulles International Airport. The exhibit I found was the “Discovery: Final Approach”. This exhibit is a simulator in which you get to experience the final approach at Kennedy Space Center. It is located on the bottom floor under the stairs. However, it is in a high traffic area as you walk past it to visit the movie theater and the observation tower. What makes this exhibit interesting is that it allows you to control the spaceship as it lands. It is made up of two monitors and interactive controls and buttons that allow you to control it. The four buttons each have an interactive control that allows for the user to pilot the aircraft.
When looking at this exhibit its goal is to help educate people into how a spaceship lands with the goal of making it a fun interactive experience. While it is a simulation you still have some controls and by doing so helps make it a fun interactive experience. With this fun experience another goal is to help make kids interested in how an astronaut lands the spacecraft. While it is not stated I do believe that this exhibit’s goal is to at least have one kid become fascinated by how spaceships work. With the end goal being that one day that kid might go into the aerospace field. While it is a simulation, I believe it is meant for not just kids but adults as well. The goal is to help educate anyone with an interest in space while also making it a fun experience.
When it came to making this exhibit, I believe that the main challenges would be funding and execution. To come up with this they would need programmers to make an interactive experience in which one lands a spacecraft. Another challenge would be the funding as the Smithsonian is a nonprofit organization that relies on donations. For this exhibit they were able to gather a donation from Mr. and Mrs. William A. Hazel. William A. Hazel inc. is a site development and construction company in Northern Virginia. With their generous donation the Air and Space Museum was able to fund the creation of this exhibit.
The exhibit I believe could have been done better. While it will spark interest and educate those who take part in this exhibit, I believe it could have been done better. I believe it would do better if it was in a better spot. While it is currently located new the exit, I believe it would do better near the rest of the space exhibit. I also believe it is outdated as the controls and buttons look worn out and the screen is old. While it may be old, it still does have a purpose that it does well. It still allows for people to experience the landing of a spaceship with the goal of educating people. It is still a fun interactive experience that does its job but I believe is in need of upgrades.
Discovery: Final Approach. 20 March 2024, Steven F. Udvar- Hazy Center, Virginia.
