Virginia Air and Space Center - Exploring Hampton Virginia's Secret NASA Connection - video Dailymotion

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Virginia Air and Space Center in Hampton, VA - Virginia's Gateway to Space: A Hidden Wonder

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00:00Welcome back to another exciting episode. Today we are at the Virginia Air and Space Center.

00:13So come along with us and see what we can see.

00:17At the time of our visit, the hours of operation, I think I'm reading this correctly, but go

00:34on their website just to confirm. But my understanding is Monday through spring break, it's open

00:42from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays, up until spring break, is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. And then, all

00:52year round, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and

00:59Sundays, noon to 5 p.m. Ticket prices are kids two and under are free. Kids three to 18 are

01:10$19. Adults, which are considered 19 to 64, are $22.50. Seniors, 65 and over, are $20.50.

01:22And active duty military or NASA members are $19.50. And of course, members are free. They

01:31do have an IMAX theater in there, which I highly suggest you go see. However, that is an extra

01:38cost. So, that extra cost, you will have to ask at the ticket booth.

01:44It is the largest and least explored place.

01:59We do have the MAX flight simulator, which is extra. Uh-oh.

02:06They do have handicapped available bathrooms right next to the Zero Gravity Bistro, where

02:25you can pick up a nice lunch. And of course, the mission of the Virginia Air and Space Science

02:35Center is to educate, entertain, and inspire explorers of all ages. And by the way, they

02:43are celebrating more than 25 years of educational excellence as the official visitor center of

02:51NASA Langley Research Center. Located in Hampton, Virginia, the birthplace of America's first

02:59program. The Virginia Air and Space Science Center features interactive aviation exhibits spanning

03:07100 years of flight, more than 30 historic aircraft, a hands-on space exploration gallery, unique

03:17space flight artifacts, and more. The center is home to the Apollo 12 command module and the

03:26the Orion PA-1 test vehicle. Now, this facility is currently going under renovation. But hopefully,

03:35by the time you go, they will be finished. Now, the history and the reason behind the center,

03:43I thought was pretty interesting. In 1985, when Hampton City Council, with the advice from community

03:50leaders and key public officials, set a goal to create a major new educational and cultural center

03:59for area residents that would also serve as a magnet to bring tourists to Hampton Roads region. A unique

04:09collaboration between the city of Hampton and NASA Langley Research Center started in 1986. NASA Langley Research

04:18expressed a willingness to relocate their visitor center to downtown Hampton, so more people could have

04:25access to explore the past, present, and future of air and space. The city wanted a new place to highlight

04:34Hampton's wealth of history. Hampton is America's first permanent English-speaking settlement and the birthplace

04:44the birthplace of our country's air and space technology. The new attraction's theme,

04:50from the sea to the stars, would tell an exciting story of Hampton's seafaring beginnings to its pioneering role

04:59in space travel. This was the birth of the Virginia Air and Space Science Center and Hampton Roads Visitor Center,

05:09officially incorporated on December 9th, 1987. A special team of City of Hampton and NASA employees worked with

05:20world-renowned Mitchell Giola Architects to create an icon for their region. Now, the staff also worked with the exhibit

05:33design firm, Krent Poffitt of Boston to design the air, space, and history exhibits. Developed through the joint

05:44efforts of the city of Hampton and NASA Langley Research Center, the initial construction cost of $30 million was

05:56initially funded through a combination of city funds, state grants, and private philanthropy.

06:04Now, the facility is currently 110,000 square feet and nine stories high, situated on about 2.2 acres in downtown Hampton.

06:19The Virginia Air and Space Center is a private, non-profit, 501c3 corporation governed by a board of directors.

06:30After seven years in the making, the adventure began on April 5th, 1992, when the new $30 million Virginia Air and Space Center

06:42officially opened to the public. An estimated 12,000 people participated in the opening activities,

06:49which included an appearance by astronaut Pete Conrad, an area Air Force salute, and a special message by the then

07:01Governor L. Douglas Wilder. The center experienced great success in his first year with over 250,000 people

07:11visiting. 25 years later, they continued to provide educational experiences through

07:18science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, also known as STEM, to students who will one day

07:26hopefully become our next 21st century explorers of the future.

07:32Unfortunately, this was closed for renovation at the time that we were here.

07:37One of our favorite things to do here are the interactive displays. Get a load of these.

07:44Travel around the museum. I want to know what that plane is. Press the I. I want to know more. Learn more. And here we go.

07:59And what if you are in a wheelchair and can't reach this? A mobile plane spotter is available at the front desk for you.

08:12And all of us took a shot at the design station by making paper airplanes and going over to the flight lab to see how we did.

08:29So close. I think you tried. I think so. Awesome drive there, buddy.

08:47You at least hit the back.

08:54We also learned a little bit about air resistance.

09:01And we learned a bit about sonic booms.

09:09Be prepared. This is going to be loud.

09:16That's not a real sonic boom because I've heard a real sonic boom and I was hiking on a trail.

09:36We all but dropped.

09:39We're moving.

09:45Oh, I'm so excited.

09:48I just love the airport.

09:49I wonder where we're on to this time.

09:53Hey, well, you're just kidding!

09:57Hey, it looks like I've even pulled down since my last trip.

10:00I don't think so.

10:03Put it in.

10:04Oh, don't.

10:05Like, go.

10:06The space explorer gallery was also a very cool concept and it led you into the exploration

10:22station to explore earth and beyond.

10:28There was definitely a lot to explore here including the solarium.

10:55Also in here are some really great interactive activities and some wonderful static displays.

11:04In fact, I even got into the spirit and played a game or two myself.

11:24We were all pleasantly surprised at all the fun stuff in here.

11:38But then it was time to go up to the third floor to get a little better view of everything.

11:58And while you're up here, don't forget to go to the wonderful observation deck where you

12:06get to see a bird's eye view of beautiful Hampton, Virginia.

12:11Now don't leave us yet.

12:25We're going to go down, check out the wonderful little gift shop they have and then there's

12:32one more piece of information that you're really going to want to know.

12:39So on the way down the elevator, let's take one last peek at this wonderful Air and Space

12:45Center in Virginia.

13:00Of course, Elias couldn't help himself but to check out the gift shop.

13:11And then right across from the Virginia Space Center, I should say Catacorner, is the public

13:19parking.

13:20But you have to get into it from the other side as far as the car.

13:25But foot traffic to the public parking lot is right here.

13:34Nice and convenient.

13:44We made it.

13:50And thank you for coming along with us to the Virginia Air and Space Center.

13:55We hope you enjoyed it and we hope to see you back here very soon.

13:59And as always, have a great day.

14:14We'll see you next time.

14:15Bye.

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Virginia Air and Space Center - Exploring Hampton Virginia's Secret NASA Connection

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