Spaceport, Seacombe, Merseyside
There can be little doubt that space is a fascinating subject. Authors, film-makers and artists have all been enthralled by it, politicians have put it at the top of their agendas, and for scientists and philosophers it poses big questions about our existence.
It is responsible for some of the greatest cultural memories of the 20th century and even triggered the development of the internet. So a science centre dedicated to the subject should be an awesome experience. But Spaceport manages to be far from thrilling.
Spaceport seems to contain all the right ingredients for a space science centre. Three areas themed around our solar system, the Milky Way and the universe are interspersed with rooms where visitors 'travel through space' using ideas that sit on the boundary of science and science fiction. The problem is in the delivery. Spaceport depends heavily on text panels and film, the interactives are unimaginative and the content is thin.
Spaceport opens with the idea that visitors are entering a space station that will act as a jumping-off point to explore the universe. Entry to the exhibition is through a 'space pod' that 'takes off' and transports the enclosed visitors to a space station near Saturn. Once 'docked', visitors leave the pod and enter the first section of the exhibition.
On leaving the space pod, the pretence of being an explorer in space is soon lost. A wall with backlit photos shows images from inside spacecraft, and you can select video clips to see how astronauts eat, wash and sleep in space. But these don't coincide with the other exhibits in the room, which are about the solar system.
These are primarily graphic panels: one for the sun, each of the planets and Earth's moon. To some extent, the text continues the voyager theme. It is written in the style of a travel guide, and just like a travel guide it gives you lots of snippets of information but doesn't allow you to build up a full picture.
It's great to know that the southern hemisphere of Mars has dramatic scenery - but what is it and why is it dramatic? The panels impart information in an excitable manner, but this isn't the same as aiding understanding or enthusing visitors.
The same could be said of the interactives, of which there are surprisingly few. One series of push-button interactives asks visitors to select their ideal planet for each of a series of criteria - distance from the sun, atmosphere, size and so on. But the science for making an informed selection is nowhere to be found and so the interactive becomes a guessing game.
Other exhibits in this section include a film about the origin of the universe with a soundtrack that is so quiet it is barely audible. Sound levels on audiovisual exhibits and sound spillage from one area of the displays to another are problematic throughout the centre.
The first room of the solar system theme contains the sun and planets as far out as Mars. The panels are set at distances proportional to the distances between the actual planets, so parts of this room are very cramped. Jupiter to Neptune is through an archway in another room, and it's something of a relief to get to Pluto, which is by the entrance to the Milky Way area.
But before the Milky Way, Spaceport throws in a bit of science-fiction/science with a panel about wormholes. This launches into a discussion of space-time distortion that is at odds with the previous level of scientific content. Visitors can go through Spaceport's wormhole, though it looks uncannily like a walkway with some flashing blue neon strip-lights.
The Milky Way concentrates on stars and sound in space, but contains only a few exhibits for such a large room. From here visitors can go upstairs to 'the universe', in which the dominant exhibit is a film about the origins of the universe (though this is different from the one in the solar system area).
This film is played across four enormous screens and lasts a couple of minutes - and that's it. A subject that has taxed some of the greatest minds, inspired others, and has been at the centre of scientific, philosophical and theological debate for centuries is covered only briefly.
You can instead read a graphic panel to discover how you can help to scan the airwaves for signs of alien life, or play arcade games to shoot fictional aliens.
The fact that Spaceport has not managed to capitalise on such a rich subject is not the only disappointment. The experience of getting to the centre on public transport leaves something to be desired too. Spaceport is in Seacombe, on the Wirral side of the Mersey, almost directly opposite the Liver Building.
People travelling by public transport from Liverpool are advised by Spaceport and Merseytravel to take the famous ferry across the Mersey. You can even buy a combined ferry/Spaceport ticket.
Unfortunately, the ferry only goes once an hour and visitors departing between 10am and 3pm are obliged to take the River Explorer Cruise, which takes half an hour for a journey that need only take ten minutes. This might be fine on a sunny day, but is not so good when the water is rough.
Once at the centre it turns out that the combined ticket isn't actually a ticket but a voucher to be exchanged for a ticket, so visitors still have to queue. Finally, those arriving anywhere close to last admission at 4pm will probably find the gift shop shut when they leave. Spaceport closes its doors at 5.30pm, but bizarrely the shop shuts 90 minutes earlier.
Space provides a wealth of material for an exhibition that could excite and enthuse visitors about some vital questions and debates, but Spaceport hasn't managed to tap into this.
It is rather astonishing that such a rich subject should be presented with such little depth. Add to this a long journey for those arriving by public transport, and Spaceport is far from being an out-of-this-world experience.
Rachel Souhami is a freelance curator and lecturer in science
communication at Imperial College, London
Project data
Cost: £10m
Main funders: European Regional Development Fund, Merseytravel, Liverpool John Moores University, Wirral Borough Council, Wirral Waterfront
Design and build: Real Studios, ISG InteriorExterior
Interactives: EDM Simulators: Doron
There can be little doubt that space is a fascinating subject. Authors, film-makers and artists have all been enthralled by it, politicians have put it at the top of their agendas, and for scientists and philosophers it poses big questions about our existence.
It is responsible for some of the greatest cultural memories of the 20th century and even triggered the development of the internet. So a science centre dedicated to the subject should be an awesome experience. But Spaceport manages to be far from thrilling.
Spaceport seems to contain all the right ingredients for a space science centre. Three areas themed around our solar system, the Milky Way and the universe are interspersed with rooms where visitors 'travel through space' using ideas that sit on the boundary of science and science fiction. The problem is in the delivery. Spaceport depends heavily on text panels and film, the interactives are unimaginative and the content is thin.
Spaceport opens with the idea that visitors are entering a space station that will act as a jumping-off point to explore the universe. Entry to the exhibition is through a 'space pod' that 'takes off' and transports the enclosed visitors to a space station near Saturn. Once 'docked', visitors leave the pod and enter the first section of the exhibition.
On leaving the space pod, the pretence of being an explorer in space is soon lost. A wall with backlit photos shows images from inside spacecraft, and you can select video clips to see how astronauts eat, wash and sleep in space. But these don't coincide with the other exhibits in the room, which are about the solar system.
These are primarily graphic panels: one for the sun, each of the planets and Earth's moon. To some extent, the text continues the voyager theme. It is written in the style of a travel guide, and just like a travel guide it gives you lots of snippets of information but doesn't allow you to build up a full picture.
It's great to know that the southern hemisphere of Mars has dramatic scenery - but what is it and why is it dramatic? The panels impart information in an excitable manner, but this isn't the same as aiding understanding or enthusing visitors.
The same could be said of the interactives, of which there are surprisingly few. One series of push-button interactives asks visitors to select their ideal planet for each of a series of criteria - distance from the sun, atmosphere, size and so on. But the science for making an informed selection is nowhere to be found and so the interactive becomes a guessing game.
Other exhibits in this section include a film about the origin of the universe with a soundtrack that is so quiet it is barely audible. Sound levels on audiovisual exhibits and sound spillage from one area of the displays to another are problematic throughout the centre.
The first room of the solar system theme contains the sun and planets as far out as Mars. The panels are set at distances proportional to the distances between the actual planets, so parts of this room are very cramped. Jupiter to Neptune is through an archway in another room, and it's something of a relief to get to Pluto, which is by the entrance to the Milky Way area.
But before the Milky Way, Spaceport throws in a bit of science-fiction/science with a panel about wormholes. This launches into a discussion of space-time distortion that is at odds with the previous level of scientific content. Visitors can go through Spaceport's wormhole, though it looks uncannily like a walkway with some flashing blue neon strip-lights.
The Milky Way concentrates on stars and sound in space, but contains only a few exhibits for such a large room. From here visitors can go upstairs to 'the universe', in which the dominant exhibit is a film about the origins of the universe (though this is different from the one in the solar system area).
This film is played across four enormous screens and lasts a couple of minutes - and that's it. A subject that has taxed some of the greatest minds, inspired others, and has been at the centre of scientific, philosophical and theological debate for centuries is covered only briefly.
You can instead read a graphic panel to discover how you can help to scan the airwaves for signs of alien life, or play arcade games to shoot fictional aliens.
The fact that Spaceport has not managed to capitalise on such a rich subject is not the only disappointment. The experience of getting to the centre on public transport leaves something to be desired too. Spaceport is in Seacombe, on the Wirral side of the Mersey, almost directly opposite the Liver Building.
People travelling by public transport from Liverpool are advised by Spaceport and Merseytravel to take the famous ferry across the Mersey. You can even buy a combined ferry/Spaceport ticket.
Unfortunately, the ferry only goes once an hour and visitors departing between 10am and 3pm are obliged to take the River Explorer Cruise, which takes half an hour for a journey that need only take ten minutes. This might be fine on a sunny day, but is not so good when the water is rough.
Once at the centre it turns out that the combined ticket isn't actually a ticket but a voucher to be exchanged for a ticket, so visitors still have to queue. Finally, those arriving anywhere close to last admission at 4pm will probably find the gift shop shut when they leave. Spaceport closes its doors at 5.30pm, but bizarrely the shop shuts 90 minutes earlier.
Space provides a wealth of material for an exhibition that could excite and enthuse visitors about some vital questions and debates, but Spaceport hasn't managed to tap into this.
It is rather astonishing that such a rich subject should be presented with such little depth. Add to this a long journey for those arriving by public transport, and Spaceport is far from being an out-of-this-world experience.
Rachel Souhami is a freelance curator and lecturer in science
communication at Imperial College, London
Project data
Cost: £10m
Main funders: European Regional Development Fund, Merseytravel, Liverpool John Moores University, Wirral Borough Council, Wirral Waterfront
Design and build: Real Studios, ISG InteriorExterior
Interactives: EDM Simulators: Doron
