posted 02-03-2011 03:07 PM               

Cosmomania: The Incredible Space Adventure

Cosmomania: The Incredible Space Adventure takes visitors on a journey through time and space. Visitors move through five different "bubbles" representing different eras of history, reliving a landmark event in space exploration from each time period. Between bubbles, visitors travel through time corridors featuring interpretive panels and interactives that situate space exploration in historical and social context.

The exhibit is fully bilingual (English and French).

Produced by: Cité de l’espace (Toulouse, France) in conjunction with Cap Sciences and Cité des sciences et de l’industrie. This exhibit's stay at The Manitoba Museum is funded by the Canadian Space Agency.

posted 02-03-2011 03:09 PM               

Although the Russians and the Americans have understandably hogged the galactic spotlight, Young says Cosmomania will offer plenty of reminders that Canada -- the third country to have a satellite in space -- has had a hand in space exploration.

Make that an arm, as in the robotic Canadarm -- our "icon of space technology" and contribution to the U.S. space shuttle program.

"Canada has played a big role, but it has usually been a behind-the-scenes role," Young says. "Because we don't launch our own rockets, we have to hitch a ride with other people."

Many of the engineers in the Apollo program (which put 12 astronauts on the moon between 1969 and 1972) came from Ontario-based Avro Canada, he says.