31 January 2023
The Wairarapa Space Science Centre has proved a massive success and will now be open until the end of Waitangi Weekend (Monday, 6 February).
People have more time to visit the interactive experiences and learn more about the new internationally accredited Wairarapa Dark Sky Reserve.
The couple behind the Wairarapa Space Science Centre is the confessed space geeks Haritina (Hari) Mogoşanu and Sam Leske.
“The feedback from people has been overwhelmingly positive, we had our 3,000th visitor through on 30 January,, and a few groups have returned for more visits. Our shows are live, and children have loved getting dressed up in silver space uniforms during the tour, which has made the experience even more memorable,” says Hari.”The feedback from people has been overwhelmingly positive, and a few groups have returned for more visits. Our shows are live, and children have loved getting dressed up in silver space uniforms during the tour, which has made the experience even more memorable,” says Hari.
“I want to live here,” wrote seven years old Archie in the visitor’s book.
A section on Mars showcases the latest updates on the red planet, including fascinating information and large visuals. Through Virtual Reality headsets, people can also become virtual astronauts and visit the International Space Station with their own eyes.
The Carterton exhibition highlights what it means for a region to have a Dark Sky Reserve status, how people can reduce the amount of light they generate, which ultimately impacts the night sky, and how they can participate further in citizen science projects that map dark skies around the world.
The Wairarapa Space Science Centre is a New Zealand Astrobiology Network (NZAN) Charitable Trust project. It is based in Carterton’s former NZ Post Office building, which the Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tāmāki nui-a-Rua Settlement Trust generously provides.
Hari is the Executive Director of the New Zealand Astrobiology Network and has an impressive career in the space sciences. She’s worked at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California, was the Senior Science Communicator at Museums Wellington Space Place at Carter Observatory and is currently involved in space science outreach education in New Zealand.
Sam is a former RNZAF pilot, senior public servant, and intelligence officer with a lifelong interest in astronomy and astrophysics.
‘Together, they run education programmes in schools, and in the last 12 months alone, they’ve talked space science’ with more than 12,000 students from 62 schools across the country. ‘Together, they run education programmes in schools, and in the last 12 months alone, they’ve talked ‘space science’ with more than 12,000 students from 62 schools across the country.
Hari and Sam’s enthusiasm for the cosmos is clear, and visitors to the exhibition will feel their combined obsession for all things stars, space and science. They both have a natural gift for making these topics fun, exciting, and, more importantly, relatable to every person’s experience.
The couple is confident that Wairarapa could become a centre of knowledge tourism, where tourists seek meaningful and enriching experiences and learn something from experts in their fields. At the first New Zealand Aerospace Summit this year, it was said that New Zealand is the fourth most important space nation on the planet.
ENDS
For more information, contact:
Haritina (Hari) Mogoşanu email: [email protected] ph 0212 692 908
Sam Leske email: [email protected] ph 021 663 808
Exhibition website: www.wairarapa.space
NOTES TO EDITORS:
The Wairarapa Space Sciences Centre pop-up exhibition is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm until Monday, 6 February.
Entry to the Dark Sky exhibition is free. Entry to the Planetarium, to drive the rover, or they have an experience on the Virtual Reality headsets is $5 per person.