Sneak peek: New ‘Space Explorers: Mission Infinity’ exhibit ready for launch at Washington Pavilion

This piece is sponsored by Washington Pavilion Management Inc.

Get ready to explore the depths of space from a fully reimagined floor inside the Washington Pavilion.

“Space Explorers: Mission Infinity” officially lifts off with a grand opening at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, immersing visitors in an interactive adventure as they learn about life beyond planet Earth.

Located on the second floor of the Kirby Science Discovery Center, it’s the center’s largest renovation in recent years and the largest single investment in the science center since it opened in 1999.

“Space Explorers: Mission Infinity” was developed in partnership with MarketBeat and Dakota State University and also is sponsored by the MidAmerican Energy Foundation and the Sheldon F Reese Foundation.

“I think it turned out beautifully. It really captures the wonder and excitement of space and technology,” said Maddy Grogan, director of education and museums.

“The whole floor feels alive with movement and discovery, and the team did such an incredible job creating an environment that’s both inspiring and approachable. It’s bright, hands-on and really makes you feel like you’re stepping into a space adventure.”

Visitors will enter five distinct zones offering the chance to:

Build and launch your own rocket at Mission Control.
See Earth from above and explore satellite science.
Step inside a Mars habitat and explore the Red Planet.
Scan deep space using high-powered telescopes.
Discover alien worlds and imagine life beyond our solar system.

“Visitors will immediately notice how fully immersive the experience is,” Grogan said.

“Every element connects to space and technology, from hands-on activities that let you experiment like an engineer to interactive features that simulate the feeling of exploration and discovery.”

Dynamic lighting, sound and movement “pull you into the story, making it feel less like a traditional exhibit and more like stepping inside a living, high-tech space lab where curiosity leads the way,” she added.

The exhibit was designed by formulaD, a firm that specializes in working with museums, tourist attractions and urban experiences worldwide.

“Our big goal is to give visitors the opportunity to become part of the story. This creates a memorable experience, and visitor enjoyment and learning is at its highest,” founder and co-CEO Michael Wolf said.

“Mission Infinity transforms kids into astronauts in training. Every game they play, every fact they learn ultimately nudges them to consider a career as scientists, engineers or even astronauts.”

While the team has worked on major projects for children’s museums and science centers, this was its first large exhibit on space travel and space science.

“Our content and design team really enjoyed the deep dive into the subject matter,” Wolf said.

“It’s always incredible to observe how such a complex project develops from initial sketches to the final installed exhibition. There are so many production elements that need to come together, from interior fit-out to graphics, animations, electronics, to software design. We are very happy how everything came together. The close collaboration and coordination with a passionate and experienced museum team were critical to achieve this.”

For donor Matt Paulson, founder of MarketBeat, “this is truly a next-generation children’s museum experience. Children across the city, including my daughter Ady, are going to love it,” he said.

“Kids will be able to learn about space and technology through fun and interactive games and exhibits. This is not something you can find elsewhere in South Dakota.”

For Wolf, a “big wow” is a solar system created from 3D basketballs to show the relationship of planet sizes to Earth.

“Earth has the size of a real basketball, and Jupiter has a diameter of almost 9 feet. We believe this will lead to a lot of excitement and plenty of social media posts,” Wolf said.

“On a more subtle level, we embedded several learning checkpoints in the exhibition. Kids respond to questions to level up, and the results can be viewed and tracked by the museum using an online dashboard.”

Enjoy special events for launch weekend, including themed activities, staff-led demonstrations and plenty of opportunities to enjoy the new space.

“This renovation pairs perfectly with what’s happening in the planetarium. Both spaces encourage curiosity about space, science and technology in immersive, hands-on ways,” Grogan said. “Visitors can experiment and play on the new floor, then head to the planetarium to see those same ideas come to life on a cosmic scale.”

While a lot of the activities in “Space Explorers: Mission Infinity” are designed for kids, there’s something here for everyone, she added.

“Adults will love the interactive tech displays and the opportunity to explore side-by-side with their kids,” Grogan said.

“There’s a real sense of shared discovery, whether you’re launching a rocket, experimenting with light and motion or learning how technology helps us explore beyond Earth.”

Holiday membership deals begin Nov. 15 at the Washington Pavilion. Secure yours, and enjoy exclusive access to a members-only evening inside the all-new space floor from 5 to 7 p.m. Nov. 20. It’s the perfect time to become a member or gift one! Learn more here.