Space Racers

TM
:
Adventures in Space Exploration
Explore space with Eagle, Hawk, Robyn and their fellow space cadets
as they guide you through the solar system and beyond!
New permanent exhibit
WWW.VASC.ORG
About the Exhibit
About Space Racers
TM
, the Animated Series
Space Racers
TM
is a new, original, half-hour, animated series for preschoolers that follows
young spaceship cadets at the Stardust Bay Space Academy as they soar through the
Solar System. Young viewers will learn about the power of scientifc investigation and
observation, the wonders of space exploration, and the importance of working together as a
team, all with fun and engaging characters they can relate to. Space Racers
TM
airs locally on
WHRO.
Little explorers can blast off and explore the wonders
of space in the new interactive exhibit Space Racers
TM
:
Adventures in Space Exploration. Based on the new
animated series Space Racers
TM
, Eagle and his fellow
space cadets from the Stardust Bay Space Academy
take young children on a journey through the solar
system and encourage pretend play and teamwork!
With over 15 hands-on activities for little ones to enjoy,
this exhibit allows visitors to explore space and learn
cool facts along the way.
TM
Eagle is a racer with unrivaled speed
and agility. He is the confdent,
natural leader of the Space Racers
TM
.


Robyn has the sharpest mind and
is the groups scientist. She is the
whiz kid and the brainiest of all the
Space Racers
TM
.
Starling is wide-eyed, ambitious,
and bursting with enthusiasm. She
may be small but shes braver than
ships twice her size.
Raven is cunning. With charisma and
unrelenting competitiveness; he is
Eagles chief rival at Stardust Bay
Space Academy.
Headmaster Crane is wise and
enigmatic yet always understanding
and kind. He guides these eager
cadets on their missions.
Hawk has incredible strength and a
near-perfect memory.
Hes a great big spaceship with an
even bigger heart.

Meet the Cadets of the Stardust Bay Space Academy
Space Racers: Adventures in Space Exploration Exhibit
Rocket Launch
Little astronauts are encouraged to use their
imagination and pretend play in this rocket
module where they will prepare for blastoff!
NASAs next spacecraft to explore space and
possibly bring humans to Mars is Orion. At
this Design Desk, guests are tasked to design
their own spacecraft for a mission to Mars.
Mission Control Module
Guests are invited to join Mission Control and help manage a spacefight mission
from launch to landing. As new team members of mission control, they can prepare for
launch day, track a mission, create a supplies checklist, and manage cargo aboard the
International Space Station.
Visitors can join the countdown in Blast Off! and send a rocket soaring, or track Eagle in
Mission Tracking as he embarks on an interplanetary mission!
The weather is an important factor for launching a rocket. Visitors can use weather data
provided at the Weather Station to determine if conditions are right to launch a rocket.
Young children and their families can pretend to be an engineer in Build A Rocket where
they use oversized building blocks to construct a rocket that towers over them.
Young explorers can climb into a rocket and pretend to blast off right out of the Center!
Space Station Module
Young explorers can pretend they are astronauts aboard the International Space Station
and discover what it is like to eat, sleep, work, and play in space!
Guests can discover how an astronauts gloves
could make a simple task here on Earth more
diffcult in space with the Glove Box interactive
where they perform a very important repair task.
In the Lab, guests can view current experiments
being conducted on the International Space
Stationhow plants grow and how butterfies
react in micro-gravitythrough time lapse videos.
Little astronauts can climb inside a space station
sleeping bag to experience how real astronauts
sleep in space without foating away.
Visitors can see whats on the menu for astronauts aboard the International Space Station
with a space food display from Johnson Space Center.
Just like here on Earth, its important for astronauts to exercise every day to keep their
bodies healthy. Young explorers and their families can stay ft on a mini treadmill and
learn about the challenges astronauts face when they exercise in micro-gravity.
To the Moon!
Visitors can travel to the moon and experience all of the
wonders of the lunar surface.
Little lunar explorers can climb aboard the Space Racers
TM

Lunar Rover to explore the surface of the moon.
Young children can pretend to be an astronaut and go on
a mission to collect Lunar Samples from their rover using
a robotic arm.
Gusts and their little scientists can examine moon dirt
for themselves in a simulated lunar surface activity.
The Moon Rock display will inspire little ones to use
their sense of touch and experience different textures like
rough and soft.
Guests will learn about the moons gravity and test the
weight of a milk bottle on different planets.
Our Solar System
Visitors are introduced to the seasons and day and
night with this matching activity.
Families will take a journey through our solar
system and learn about the night sky. They will
observe a number of constellations and connect
stars to create their own Constellation Creation.
Young explorers will join cadet Starling in Sun Fun
as she explores the solar system and the planets
as they orbit the sun.
Guests are put to the test in Solar Puzzle where they use their knowledge of the solar
system to guess the planet.
Space Racers
TM
Place for Space
Families can take a seat on Saturn as they enjoy clips of the
Space Racers
TM
series or read a far-out story in the reading
area. Activity tables allow little ones to let their imagination
run wild with coloring activities and building blocks.
Education Philosophy of Space Racers
TM
, the Animated Series
Space Racers
TM
provides young children with exposure to key aspects of the STEM (Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) curriculum. By focusing on science and
technology concepts, information, methods, and practices, the series helps to set the stage
for future success in these critical academic areas. Set in a rich and exciting world with
space as its focus, the series also promotes the idea that space exploration helps us to
learn new things, understand the world we live in, and make it a better place. Each episode
taps into childrens curiosity and interest in this important topic, laying the foundation for
a positive attitude that can carry over into early school experiences with this content area.
Space Racers
TM
is built on the premise that scientifc exploration and investigation are
often highly collaborative processes, where knowledge building requires working with
others, respect for differences, and an open mind. With an underlying theme of teamwork
and cooperation, the series models a range of useful strategies, thought processes, and
approaches, helping young children to develop these essential, age-appropriate skills. This
collaboration guides the series storytelling, highlighting specifc behaviors that can help to
make one an effective and valuable member of a team.
Education Programs at the Virginia Air & Space Center
The Virginia Air & Space Center offers an array of educational programs for PreK grade 1 that
are designed to meet the Virginia Standards of Learning guidelines, the National Science Education
Standards, and stimulate students interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics).
With the Centers informal science education approach, we promote learning through doing and
allow students to explore the basics of scientifc principles in a fun and engaging environment.
Current Programs for PreK grade 1:
Sensory Detectives!
Science Foundation Blocks 1a-e
Math Foundation Blocks 6a
Science SOL K.1a, h, K.2, 1.1a, f, h, 1.2c
Students will use their senses to identify everyday objects. They will be able to describe how each sense can
help them understand something in a different way. Using multiple senses, students will try to identify items in
sealed bags.
Moon Time
Foundation blocks 1c, 6b
Science SOL K.1a, h, k, 1.1c, h
Students explore the phases of the moon through a variety of hands-on activities, including making their own
moon fipbooks.
Rockets Rule!
Science Foundation Blocks 1d, e, 2a, b
Math Foundation Blocks 4b, c, d
Science SOL K.1a, h, 1.1a, f, h, 1.2c
Students learn the different components of a rocket and experiment with different shapes to determine the best
fight.
Star Pop
Science Foundation Blocks 1a, c, 6b, c
Science SOL K.1a, g
Students learn that stars go through a life cycle and that the temperature of the star determines its color.
Super Sun
Science Foundation Blocks 1a, d, 6a, b
Science SOL K.1a, g, h
Students learn that the sun is a star and how it affects us. They then make a pin-hole camera to observe the
sun.
Grounded Gravity
Science Foundation Blocks 1c
Science SOL K.1a, g, 1.1b, d, f, h
Students will learn that gravity is the force that pulls everything down towards the earth.
Cons-TELL-ations
Math Foundation Blocks 4a-d
Literacy Foundation Blocks 1a, e, g
Students will explore how a constellation is made. They will see familiar constellations and learn the stories of
some of them. Students will then come up with their own stories to new constellations they create.
Virginia Air & Space Center
600 Settlers Landing Road, Hampton, VA 23669
(757)-727-0900 or (800)-296-0800
www.vasc.org
The Virginia Air & Space Center is the
offcial visitor center for NASA Langley
Research Center.
Location
The Virginia Air & Space Center is located
at 600 Settlers Landing Road on Downtown
Hamptons beautiful waterfront, just off
I-64. The Center is just minutes away from
Williamsburg, Norfolk, Virginia Beach and
less than two hours from the Outer Banks of
North Carolina.
Parking
Free parking is available in the Downtown Hampton public parking garage, just a block
past the Virginia Air & Space Center on the right.
Summer Hours
Monday-Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Thursday-Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and
Sunday: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission Prices
The new Space Racers
TM
: Adventures in Space Exploration is included in regular exhibit
admission.
Non-Member Exhibit Admission
Adults - $11.50
Seniors - (65+)/NASA/military- $10.50
Children - (3-18)/ Student ID- $9.50
Group Rates
Discounted rates are available for groups of ten or more. Groups can make reservations or
receive more information by calling our group sales offce at (757) 727-0900, ext. 780.
Membership
Guests can experience the new Space Racers
TM
: Adventures in Space Exploration for FREE with
the purchase of a family membership. A membership provides families with unlimited
exhibit admission, a number of IMAX tickets depending on the level of membership, and
numerous other benefts for an entire year! Memberships start at $69 and guests can
purchase them in advance by calling our membership offce at (757) 727-0900, ext. 718 or
registering online at www.vasc.org.
Center Overview