There is a massive space-age exhibition happening right now at BITEC BURI: the Space Journey Bangkok. Whether you are a die-hard space enthusiast or just an ordinary person looking to learn more about some of humanity’s epic space missions, this is the first-ever exhibit of its kind in Asia and features all kinds of real gear used in some of history’s most important space missions. 

The once-in-a-lifetime exhibition compiles original objects, artifacts and replicas from the US, the Soviet Union, and other space exploration giants, and showcases them in tantalizing ways across 10 different rooms. Plus, you can experience a space shuttle ride through VR, experiment with a gyroscope machine, or try being trained as an astronaut yourself. 

The show is packed with cool bits and bobs from past space missions, something space nerds like us can appreciate. Here are some of the highlights:

An original component of Saturn V. rocket F1 engine in mint condition, retrieved from the Atlantic Ocean by the big Amazon boss himself, Jeff Bezos

Some of the original Houston Mission Control Center consoles used in communication with astronauts on the Apollo and other spacecrafts, including a handwritten note with calculations made by the astronauts during their flight. 

A 1:10-scale model of the historic Saturn V rocket, the only rocket ever to carry humans past a low Earth orbit, including nine manned missions to the moon. 

A walk-through mockup of the Columbia space shuttle cockpit, partly using the original components.

A 1:1 replica of the Mercury Friendship 7, demonstrating the limited space astronauts had to endure, while the temperature inside of the spacecraft could be as high as 40°C

The Lunokhod lunar rover, replacing humans as part of the Russian robotic spacecraft missions, operating under the command from the ground control.

A 1:1 model of Mars Rover Opportunity, originally assigned to a 90-day mission but ended up working for 5,498 days, playing a significant role in sending massive amounts of information to scientists back on Earth.

There will also be a huge collection of highly-valued Mars rocks and collection of meteorites

Having been exhibited in Portugal, Italy, The Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovakia, this is Asia’s first Space Journey exhibition. 

The exhibition elements are spread across 10 different rooms, some of them simulating off-world environments and others more similar to a traditional museum exhibition room. Here what to expect: 

Dreams And Vision / Jules Verne Journey to the Moon: Kickstart your journey with the impactful written words of Jules Verne, a novelist in the 1800s who helped inspire space discovery for generations with amazingly accurate predictions about the future of exploration beyond Earth.

Cinema: Get into the mood for spacefaring through a short, but stimulating, movie.

Conquering Space: Learn about the tantalizing history of cosmic journeys and remarkable events such as the first ever flight to outer space, Laika the dog, etc.

Apollo Program ─ Landing on The Moon: Learn about the history of all Apollo programs, which played significant roles in the development of astronautics.

Soyuz Project: Dive deeper into is the longest operational human spacecraft program in the history of the Soviet Union.

Life in Space: Get a taste of what it feels like to be working in the Mir at the 1:1 walkthrough model, as well as the ISS International Space Station with original mission control consoles from NASA space center in Houston.

Space Shuttles: Discover more about the history of all US space shuttles and the USSR’s Buran space shuttle with walkthrough models.

Mars Exploration and Colonization of Planet Mars: Delve into the astonishing stories of Martian expeditions and experience the 1:1 model of the Opportunity rover.

Deep Space: Expand your knowledge of space technologies, from past to future.

Space Journey Camp: Enjoy the gyroscope and the VR rides that get you closer to the space exploration experience.

Despite being very educational, the experience is designed to be leisurely enjoyable, so this is for everyone, not just families. You can also get refreshed at the Space Café, which offers themed drinks and sweet treats.

The Space Journey Bangkok will be held until April 16 at BITEC BURI. Tickets are priced at B650 per person, with group discounts, which can be booked here. Check out Space Journey Bangkok’s Facebook for more details and updates.