In conjunction with the Smithsonian, the Rocket Center will be showing the following short documentaries in the Davidson Center Theater beginning Monday, June 22nd. These will be on display throughout the summer as a way to celebrate America's 250th birthday. Admission to these shows is included with general admission, and no tickets are needed. Please note that times may change as needed to accommodate unexpected use of the Davidson Center Theater.

Showtimes are subject to change; please call the main ticket desk (256)721-7114 for showtimes.
 

America's Secret Space Heroes: Space Shuttle

See how NASA engineers met the challenge to build a spacecraft that can launch like a rocket and land like an airplane. For years, the idea of a reusable spacecraft was the dream of early space pioneers, and in 1981, after almost a decade of engineering toil, the Space Shuttle Columbia finally lifted into orbit, ushering in a new era of space flight. Today, the shuttle's work is complete, but its engineering legacy will outlast those who built it. Relive its incredible 30-year history, from its groundbreaking achievements to its heartbreaking failures, as told by the people who designed, built, and flew this magnificent flying machine.
TVPG / 44 min

The Day We Walked on the Moon

Revisit the first lunar landing in gripping real-time as we highlight its most perilous and triumphant moments. On July 16, 1969, hundreds of thousands of spectators and an army of reporters gathered at Cape Kennedy to witness one of the great spectacles of the century: the launch of Apollo 11. Over the next few days, the world watched on with wonder and rapture as humankind prepared for its "one giant leap" onto the moon--and into history. Witness this incredible day, presented through stunning, remastered footage and interviews that take you behind-the-scenes and inside the spacecraft, Mission Control, and the homes of the astronauts' families.
TVPG / 44 min