The space science program has three components: a 30,000-sfspace exhibit, renovation of Gates Planetarium, and an expandedCommunity Science Program. To date, the campaign has raised $13.7million toward the $30 million. The money has come from the museumboard, Gates Family Foundation, Adolph Coors Foundation, thePauline A. and George R. Morrison Trust, the Schlessman FamilyFoundation and Lockheed Martin, the first of several aerospace,computer and telecommunications companies the museum plans to tapfor its fund-raising effort.

The 30,000-sf exhibit will be built without expanding the museumbuilding. Instead, other exhibits will be moved to accommodate it.The exhibit and the renovated planetarium will open in 2003.

The current circular auditorium in the planetarium will bereplaced with a stadium-seat facility similar to an IMAX theaterand a descending dome. The new planetarium will be able tocommunicate with space shuttles and depict developments in space asthey happen. The permanent exhibit will include a "visitor centerfor the universe," complete with travel guides, simulated astronauttraining center, simulated Mars research station, deep spacecomputer simulations projected in a theater and SunFest, a carnivalsetting for studying the sun.