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Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination
Posted by Dustin on February 9, 2007 at 12:00 AM CST:
This just in from the Communications Coordinator at the California Science Center.
*Of course if you needed reminding, not only is this one stellar event for everyone, but what makes it even better are the guys & gals from the 501st who volunteer their own spare time to help make this a more enjoyable event. The Southern California Garrison will be handling this detail for the Empire, so be sure to thank a trooper when you see one.
LOS ANGELES—Continuing the Star Wars saga’s year-long 30th-anniversary celebration, the
phenomenally popular Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination debuts February 11, 2007 at
the California Science Center, where it runs through April 29. Since its October 2005 debut, the
exhibition has attracted nearly 700,000 visitors at museums in Boston, Massachusetts; Columbus,
Ohio; and Portland, Oregon.
Could humanoid robots and vehicles that hover above ground, once limited only to the fantasy worlds
of Star Wars, become a reality? Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination explores the
boundaries of fantasy and reality, revealing intriguing similarities between how scientists and
filmmakers think. Developed by the Museum of Science, Boston in collaboration with Lucasfilm Ltd.,
the 10,000 square-foot exhibit explores the fantasy technologies depicted in the Star Wars films and
compares them to real-world technologies that are shaping our future today. Visitors will discover how
ideas become technologies in real life through hands-on exhibits, immersive experiences, and cutting
edge innovations.
This exhibition is the first to display costumes and props from all six Star Wars films with real-world
technologies. Also included are extensive video interviews with filmmakers, scientists and engineers;
and hands-on components, including two large Engineering Design Labs, where visitors can build and
test their own speeders and robots. Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination is presented by
Bose Corporation with support from the National Science Foundation and sponsored regionally by
Northrop Grumman.
“We are especially pleased to present Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination” notes Ken
Phillips, California Science Center Curator of Aerospace Science, “because it gives visitors first-hand
exposure to the incredible innovations of the Star Wars movies while inviting them to design
technologies of the future.” Phillips also notes that, “Visitors will be able to explore how current science
research may one day lead to real-world versions of many Star Wars fantasy technologies.”
Star Wars creator George Lucas said, “I’m happy that Star Wars can help educate people about
technology in an entertaining way. Technological innovation and filmmaking have a lot in common:
They both begin with imagination and creativity.”
There are two major thematic areas within the exhibit:
“Getting Around” focuses on transportation in the films as well as new and future modes of travel.
Visitors will be able to view Luke Skywalker’s Landspeeder from Episode IV, climb into a real world
hovercraft and levitate, and explore how one would build a maglev car in the Design Lab.
“Robots and People” looks at the relationship between robots and humans on screen and in the real
world. After seeing displays of Star Wars robots like C-3PO and R2-D2, visitors can try to build a droid,
exploring areas such as robot mobility, perception and cognition. Robot-enthusiasts can try to make a
robot walk, test a robot that balances on two wheels, and design facial expressions for an emotional robot.
In total, the exhibit features over 100 Star Wars artifacts and real-world technologies, 17 videos, and
21 interactive exhibits. Original film artifact highlights include models of the Millennium Falcon, Luke’s
landspeeder, a sandcrawler, a Naboo Starfighter, an AT-TE walker, and Queen Amidala’s Nubian
Starship. Costumes from each of the Star Wars worlds demonstrate how the environment shaped the
look of the Star Wars characters. Some of the colorful costumes on display include Wookiees from
Kashyyyk, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin and Yoda from Coruscant, a snowtrooper from Hoth, and a Jawa,
from Tatooine.
Admission Information
Admission to the Science Center and Star Wars exhibit is free; however a strong demand is
anticipated. Priority admission will be extended to IMAX ticket purchasers and California Science
Center Members. All others will be admitted based on availability and capacity. Admission to the
exhibit cannot be guaranteed particularly during peak hours. For more detailed information and helpful
tips for planning a visit, please go to www.californiasciencecenter.org
The Millennium Falcon “Jump to Lightspeed Experience” is an additional attraction which features a
multimedia presentation from the Hubble space telescope’s breathtaking journey to the “edge” of the
Universe. Featuring a proprietary sound system from Bose Corporation, the recreated cockpit debuts
the technologies of 3Space™ audio systems, providing visitors with a realistic three-dimensional audio
experience. The Falcon experience is separate from the exhibit with an admission charge of $2 per
person.
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