Reviewed by: Lisa Battles
5 summer events/exhibits you may not know about at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center
Reading time: 6 minutes
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What’s the one place in Huntsville where you can drink German brews, visit a deep space habitat and learn why some rocket engines have tattoos?
Here’s your sneak peek into what’s happening now at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center (USSRC) and five must-do events and exhibits this summer.
1. Explore weather, the sun + an interactive storm shelter
Kids and adults will love the interactive elements at the Baron Critical Weather Institute Exhibit. (Lacey Muenstermann / Hville Blast) 
You can literally ‘touch the sky’ at the new Baron Critical Weather Institute Exhibit. (Lacey Muenstermann / Hville Blast) 
Get a behind-the-scenes look at how meteorologists monitor and analyze weather data. (Lacey Muenstermann / Hville Blast)
The center’s latest exhibit is titled “How We Know the Weather.”
You may be wondering: Doesn’t weather seem a little “‘down to earth”’ for the U.S. Space & Rocket Center?
The two are far less than light years apart, says Museum Education Director Joseph Vick.
“The weather on Earth is directly linked to outer space. When you first enter the ‘How We Know the Weather’ exhibit, you’ll see a live, interactive display of our star, the Sun. Our solar system’s massive star provides the energy that drives the daily atmospheric weather we observe and experience on Earth.”
Joseph Vick, Museum Education Director, U.S. Space & Rocket Center
The exhibit also reminds us that modern weather technology is made possible through advances in the commercial space industry, like rockets and satellites that scientists send to detect weather in the atmosphere.
What’s inside the exhibit
The ‘How We Know the Weather’ exhibit was made possible by Bob Baron and Baron Critical Weather Institute, a nonprofit focused on educational outreach, public safety and economic development. Bob is a former chief meteorologist in Huntsville and the founder of Baron Weather Inc., whose technology has improved tornado detection and weather alerting technology used across the globe.
Here’s what you can expect to see inside:
- The evolution of weather technology
- Informative displays on thunderstorms, cloud formation + lightning
- Pro tip: Don’t miss the 3D-printed version of the largest hailstone found in Alabama + the interactive ‘hair-raising’ display.
- Real-time + detailed weather data for the entire globe
- Radar detector featuring interviews from local meteorologists
- Cloud formation display
- Pro tip: Move your hand from the bottom to the top of the ‘clouds.’ You’ll feel how the air gets colder as it travels higher in the atmosphere.
My favorite part of the exhibit? A realistic storm shelter model that puts you in the middle of an intense tornado.
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2. Savor Biergarten brews, German food + more
Who else is ready for bratwursts and brews? Back for its 12th year, Biergarten kicks off on May 22 and runs through October 23.
If you’ve never been, you can expect local beers, authentic German food and live music under the Saturn V rocket.
- When: Thursdays, May 22-October 23, 5-7:30PM
- Where: Davidson Center for Space Exploration, 1 Tranquility Base, Huntsville, AL 35805
- How much: FREE admission | See food and drink pricing in the above menu.
3. Imagine how astronauts live
The whole point of the Dare to Explore: Frontiers of Space Exhibition is to show what’s on the near horizon of space exploration, says USRRC Curator Ed Stewart.
The new Interactive Deep Space Habitat, courtesy of Lockheed Martin, is one tangible example of that mission. A walkable model, the Deep Space Habitat is ideal for three to six-month space voyages, like trips from Earth to Mars. It’s more liveable than the crew capsules used in the 1960s and includes spaces for working, eating, experiments, sleeping and privacy.
“What’s unique about the Interactive Deep Space Habitat is that you can fully go inside and interact with the different elements of the spacecraft.”
Ed Stewart, Curator, U.S. Space & Rocket Center
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4. Admire the Huntsville tats on these rocket engines
If you want to feel small in the universe, stand beside the two engines in the new Blue Origin exhibit.
When you enter the Dare to Explore: Frontiers of Space Exhibition in the museum’s Main Atrium, you’ll first notice that the two engines look different from one another. Pictured above, you can see the front engine is crafted for launching from the ground, and the other is ideal for propelling through deep space.
Then you will notice the physical marks the Huntsville community left on them. Referring to them as “tattooed engines,” Stewart explains that many of the people who played a part in developing these engines signed them.
Since Huntsvillians completed most of the development and testing of the engines, there’s a good chance you’ll see a signature from someone you know!
5. See real-size Mars rover replicas
It’s time to meet Wall-E and his family up close. The new “Discovering Mars: Robot Explorers” showcases rover models built to scale.
You’ll see the evolution of Sojourner to InSIGHT and learn about the impressive science experiments these robots conduct.
Why? The rovers help us understand Mars’ atmosphere, weather and soil, paving the way for human missions to the red planet.
Don’t miss: The exhibit’s info about how these rovers are sent to Mars is fascinating, especially the part known as the “seven minutes of terror.”
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BONUS: Gaze at the cosmos with a cosmo
We fondly refer to Cocktails and Cosmos as Huntsville’s version of the movie theater. You get your favorite movie theater popcorn and snacks, all while sipping on cosmic cocktails and watching an intriguing space-themed show.
- When: Every Friday (with a few exceptions)
- Doors open at 6:15PM, show starts at 7PM
- Where: INTUITIVE® Planetarium, 1 Tranquility Base, Huntsville, AL 35805
- How much: Adult: $17 | Child: $14 | Member: $12
Dare to Explore: Frontiers of Space is continuing to add new displays. Plan your visit now to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center so you don’t miss these awesome events and exhibits.
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