atlantis shuttle experience simulates outer space for NASA

atlantis shuttle experience simulates outer space for NASA
all images courtesy of ben cooper

 
simulating outer space, the atlantis shuttle experience is boldly going where no other has gone before, suspending an orbiter 30 feet in the air to display it in full flight mode. dedicated to NASA’s space shuttle program, the $100 million exhibit uses tunable lighting techniques to celebrate a technological marvel – as it would have appeared in action. installed in the 90,000 square feet museum at the kennedy space center, american architects pgav destinations in collaboration with design firm fisher marantz stone used over 250 LED fixtures from lumenpulse to create the dynamic scheme. the fixtures can be varied in color temperature and hue to recreate the unusual lighting conditions in space, and make it seem as if sunlight is reflecting off the orbiter.

fisher marantz stone employed LED lighting to show the orbiter as it would look in space

the lighting design heightens the drama of the shuttle

for maintenance issues, the space center required LED fixtures

fisher marantz stone used over 250 LED fixtures

the fixtures are placed on catwalks and aimed at the shuttle

linear LED fixtures maintain the mood and illuminate surrounding exhibits

orange and gold represent the heat and colors of re-entry

colors shift and change to represent different lighting conditions in space

project info:

location: kennedy space center
architects: pgav destinations
lighting designer: fisher marantz stone
photographer: ben cooper

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