Record Numbers Take Up Space at Science Center Celebration

As the Milky Way roared overhead in all its celestial splendor and the planets and stars exploded mightily in the utmost corners of the galaxy, 13-year-old Aira Roberson gazed into the handiwork of the gods and waxed profound.

“This,” she said, nodding slowly in wide-eyed deliberation, “is really neat.”

Though terse, Roberson’s remarks Tuesday during a space film shown on the mammoth, concave screen at the Reuben H. Fleet Space Theater and Science Center echoed the opinions of many of those who have filed into the center over the past few days for its annual “Spaceweek” celebration.

Visitors Dropping In From All Over

Dropping in from all parts of the country, 1,400 visitors to the weeklong program have been treated to lectures, movies and exhibits centered on what remains one of man’s last unvanquished frontiers: outer space.

The program, which began July 14 and ends Thursday, is part of the national “Spaceweek” celebration sponsored by space societies and foundations in 100 cities across the United States. According to supervisors of the “Spaceweek” festivities, the San Diego program has never seen a crowd larger than this year’s.

“The turnout has been absolutely wonderful,” said Lynne Kennedy, education director for the Balboa Park science center. “This is the seventh annual program, and there seems to be a lot of interest this year, probably because we tried to blend art and science together.”

Kennedy said the center has blended pictures taken by U.S. spacecraft with model rockets and movies about America’s forays beyond the heavens to produce this year’s theme, “Visions of Space.”

“Each museum can follow the theme of the national headquarters,” said Mary Hettinger, a community services coordinator for the science center. “We usually like to have our own to see what we can come up with. This year, theirs was ‘Commitment to the Future.’ We thought that was a little too broad, so we came up with ‘Visions of Space.’ ”

She said the program, done in recognition of the anniversary of Neil Armstrong’s historic walk on the moon, has attracted even those with only a minimal interest in the galaxy.

“This is a good forum for people interested in space and even for people not interested,” Hettinger said. “I think it broadens their interest. It’s accessible to the community, and it’s good for the space industry as a whole.”

The United States has been a virtual also-ran in the space race since the Challenger exploded in 1986, but interest in the program has encouraged organizers at the Fleet space center. They are projecting an unprecedented final turnout figure of 2,000, an increase of 500 over last year.

According to some participants in the activities, neither space agency tragedies nor lags by the government will dampen the zeal of true space buffs.

“Space is the future,” said Bill Kidby, a former Air Force pilot now living in Fairfield, Calif. “My friend and I brought her kids here to get their curiosity up and make them aware of these things.”

More children than adults have been attending the program, but Hettinger said the center has offered events for space enthusiasts of all ages.

“We have something for everyone,” she said. “For the children, we have a storyteller, Barbara McKinley. She tells tales about Indian star legends and involves the kids who want to participate.

“There are lectures for the adults during the evenings by some of the most respected astronauts and scientists in the country.”

Still, the biggest draw has been the domed theater. With its sloping screen and 300 seats, the theater has been the showcase for “Speed” and “The Dream Is Alive,” films chronicling mankind’s triumphs over the sound barrier and gravity, respectively.

“It’s a great show,” said Jack Edling of Escondido, who early Monday had thrilled to the larger-than-life scenes that rushed at him from the massive screen. “You feel like you’re a part of it.”

“This whole thing is fantastic,” said Shirley Long, who traveled from Fairfield with Kidby. “My boys are interested in space flight, and this is good for them. It’s an opportunity to learn what real heroes are.

“It’s fun for me, too, though. As a kid, I watched John Glenn go up,” she said. “I’ve been following the space industry ever since.”

But Long’s children did not hesitate to express their affinity for the past as well as the future.

“I like dinosaurs,” said 11-year-old Cameron Koepsell. “I’m interested in rockets, too, though. I like the way they take off, but I could do without the noise.”

His 7-year-old brother, Cullen, added: “I like the noise. It’s like thunder. I’m glad I came out here, because it has been really nice.”