Columbia Memorial Space Center facts for kids
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| Established | 2009 |
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| Location | 12400 Columbia Way Downey, California, US |
| Type | Science Museum |
| Key holdings | Space Shuttle Inspiration |
| Visitors | 30,000 (in 2013) |
The Columbia Memorial Space Center (CMSC) is an exciting science museum located in Downey, California, a city near Los Angeles. It's a place where you can explore space and science with hands-on activities. The city of Downey owns and runs this museum, making it a fun learning spot for everyone.
Contents
What the Space Center Does
Inspiring Future Scientists
The Columbia Memorial Space Center has a special goal. Its main purpose is to "spark people's interest in science, technology, engineering, and space." It also wants to celebrate Downey's important role in building spacecraft.
A Look at History
Downey's Role in Space Exploration
The museum is built on a very important piece of land. This was once a big factory where companies like Boeing and North American Aviation worked. They built all the Apollo Command/Service Modules here. These modules were the main parts of the Apollo spacecraft that took astronauts to the Moon. The idea for the Space Shuttle also started at this very location.
In 1999, the factory closed down. The City of Downey then began to develop the area. Part of this plan was to create an educational center. Construction on the 18,000-square-foot museum began on April 12, 2007.
The Columbia Memorial Space Center first opened in 2008. It is a national memorial to the Space Shuttle Columbia and its brave crew. The Space Shuttle Columbia was lost during its STS-107 mission.
On November 7, 2008, a small accident happened at the site. A propane tank exploded during the filming of a TV show called Bones. This caused an electrical fire, but luckily, the museum itself was not damaged.
What You Can Explore
Hands-On Science Exhibits
The museum is a special Challenger Learning Center. This means it offers many fun activities. You can join camps, workshops, and monthly events. These programs are designed to get you excited about STEM. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.
The museum is now 20,000 square feet and has two floors. It features a robotics lab where you can learn about robots. There's also an HD computer lab for digital exploration. You'll find many interactive exhibits that show you how the Space Shuttle worked. You can also learn about living on the International Space Station. Other exhibits cover exploring the Solar System and aerospace engineering. You can discover many jobs related to human and robotic space exploration.
Historic Spacecraft on Display
In 2012, a special "Space Shuttle" was shown at the center. This was a full-size model made of wood and plastic. It was built in 1972 by North American Rockwell. This model was called the "Space Shuttle Inspiration". It was taken apart and stored in early 2014.
Right in front of the museum, you can see an Apollo boilerplate capsule. This is a test version of an Apollo command capsule, named BP-12. It was the first Apollo capsule to ever fly. The City of Downey now owns it. The center also has another Apollo boilerplate, BP-19A, which is currently in storage.
See also
- List of science centers
