The Science Museum of Virginia announced the opening of “Orbit,” a new permanent exhibition that engages guests with cutting-edge interactive experiences exploring space-related topics such as physics, astronomy, biology and engineering. A $2 million gift from NewMarket Corporation — one of the largest corporate gifts in the Science Museum’s history — helped bring the exhibition to the community.
“NewMarket and the Gottwald family have long been dedicated supporters of the Science Museum’s mission to inspire curiosity about our world,” said Richard Conti, Science Museum Chief Wonder Officer. “Their commitment to innovation and discovery reflects the spirit of this exhibition, which highlights how space exploration broadens our understanding of the universe while advancing technologies that improve everyday life.”
“Orbit” includes exhibits that will let guests explore where elements that support human life come from, change the structure and composition of different types of planets, and see if they have what it takes to survive in space.
The exhibition, which is located on Level 0 outside the entrance to The Dome, will be opened in phases. The first phase, which is open now, introduces four new experiences:
- We Are Star Stuff invites guests to interact with a dynamic screen where their bodies are represented as colorful silhouettes of particles, accurately representing the proportion of elements in the body that were sourced from ancient stars and the Big Bang.
- In Planet Designer, guests will use a digital kiosk to design their own planet by customizing different features like size, tilt and atmosphere.
- Life Support Simulator challenges guests to think like an astronaut by monitoring energy and oxygen levels on a spacecraft and making strategic decisions about which onboard systems to prioritize.
- In Gravity Simulator, once the systems in Life Support Simulator are stabilized, guests will interact with a vertical flexible projection screen to alter gravity using their hands, affecting the trajectory of moving objects.
Additional experiences, which will be added in phase two, include a model of NASA’s TESS space telescope, an anechoic chamber, a tactile experience to help guests sense space and a collection case exhibiting NewMarket rocket fuels.
Headquartered in Richmond, the NewMarket family of companies — including American Pacific Corporation and Calca Solutions — produces components that are critical for modern space exploration, so they are a fitting sponsor of “Orbit.” NewMarket’s previous commitments to the Science Museum includes Ethyl Corporation’s support of The Dome, which also furthers space understanding through giant screen films and live astronomy shows.
“The NewMarket family of companies has been a proud supporter of the Science Museum almost since its inception,” said NewMarket CEO Teddy Gottwald. “As producers of chemicals for space launch and propulsion systems, we are happy to be sponsoring ‘Orbit’ — our support of this exhibition is one more way that NewMarket furthers space exploration.”
“Orbit” is included with Science Museum admission. The Science Museum is open Tuesday–Sunday from 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
About NewMarket Corporation
NewMarket Corporation is the parent of leading manufacturing and support companies specializing in petroleum additives and critical performance additives used in aerospace and military defense applications. These companies include Afton Chemical Corporation, American Pacific Corporation, Calca Solutions, Ethyl Corporation, NewMarket Services Corporation, and NewMarket Development Corporation. It has been headquartered in Richmond since its founding in 1887.
About the Science Museum of Virginia
From virtual presentations featuring STEM experts to fun videos on social media to in-person experiential exhibits, the Science Museum of Virginia looks for every opportunity to inspire all Virginians to enrich their lives through science. Helping curious minds discover the connections between — and their connection to — science, technology, engineering, and math guides Science Museum staff in all they do. Learn more at smv.org or call 804.864.1400.
