‘Space Plex’ Reports a Successful Launch

Somewhere between Discovery Zone and the food court, “Space Plex” has landed at the Fallbrook Mall, and it’s been all systems go for the kids’ hands-on space museum ever since.

Space Plex offers kids the opportunity to jump on, climb inside and see firsthand how astronauts have lived, eaten, slept in and explored outer space.

Classroom field trips as well as walk-in traffic are welcome to explore the 10,000-square-foot space museum, as fourth- and fifth-grade classes from Garden Grove Elementary School did recently.

It didn’t take long for the kids to get as excited about “Buzz” Aldrin as Buzz Lightyear.

Volunteer guides--decked in blue NASA jumpsuits--took the 60 or so children through a journey of space history--from the 1957 Russian satellite Sputnik to today’s space shuttles.

The kids’ key mission during the two-hour tour? To let their imagination take off.

Danny Bixler, 10, from Simi Valley, donned a bright orange spacesuit (it felt heavy, he said) and Michael Lacasse, also 10, really liked the lunar exploration display, a remote-control car that explored a replica of the crater and sand-dune surface of the moon.

“You can put [a robot rover] on any planet and see what other planets are like,” he said. “It’s like space. It’s like the real thing.”

Michael said he’s considering being an astronaut someday, but for now, the Space Plex will do.

The Fallbrook Mall has donated the space to Space Plex for free for one year. Other sponsors include the Canoga Park/West Hills Chamber of Commerce, companies, teachers and a whole crew of space enthusiasts.

“We’re all kindred spirits interested in space education,” said Ivor Dawson, a Space Plex spokesman and a space aficionado for more than 20 years. “This wasn’t put together by NASA or some government agency. It’s all from private citizens,” wanting to do something for the kids, he said.

Most exhibits were donated from WonderWorks, a manufacturing company that designs sets for the entertainment industry. Dawson said the Canoga Park-based company has been instrumental in the center’s early success.

“It’s been overwhelming,” Dawson said of Space Plex’s opening in January. “The response has been absolutely fantastic.”

School tours are $5 per child, including lunch. Walk-in tours are $5 for adults and $3 for children, lunch not included. Tours are available daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call (818) 347-3114.