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by Betty Magrath, SLFP.com © photos by Bob Moore, SLFP.com ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com), June 22, 2001 - The countdown for the long awaited grand opening of the St. Louis Science Center's James S. McDonnell Planetarium concluded today at 4:00 p.m with the release of 1,000 golden star balloons into the overcast sky. Hundreds of St. Louisans joined local dignitaries, St. Louis Science Center staff, representatives from Carl Zeiss and Science Center members for the celebration of the $13 million dollar project in Forest Park.
Eighteen months ago, the Planetarium was closed for much needed building renovation. It was also an opportunity for the museum to begin construction of a new environment that would feature over 100 interactive exhibits on three levels. The existing building, consisting of 37,000 sq. ft., was expanded to 43,100 sq. ft. with nearly 22,500 sq. ft. of exhibit space to give visitors an opportunity to experience what it's like living and working in space.
King pointed out that the mission of the museum is to stimulate interest in the science of technology. "Today we focus on space and on the challenges and opportunities of the next thirty-eight years and beyond." King leads a team of 250 staff members and 500 volunteers at the Science Center. Previously, he served as President of the Challenger Center for Space Science Education in Washington, D.C. St. Louis astronaut, Charlie Walker, was one of several special guests at the event. Walker, who traveled three times into space to do biomedical research financed by the McDonnell Douglas Corporation, noted that "we are looking at tomorrow for our children. This facility is going to help us all be observers of things few people have seen. We want to carry that imagination forward into the future through the eyes of our children." In an interview following the opening, Walker commented that "A facility like this brings a child's mind closer to the questions that are always there. Like, what's up there, what is a star like, and how can I get there and do it." He stated that a "Science Center like this connects the idea and the questions with the means to do it. It also takes the next important step which is to say you can do it if you get this kind of education and training."
Unfortunately, access to the Planetarium was anything but scientific. Many visitors, who had waited in a long line for free tickets to the official opening were surprised at being turned away. According to a staff member, only 145 tickets were made available for each session. There were two sessions per hour for the opening day, from 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. At ten minutes after four, all available tickets had been given away. Most tickets had already been distributed in advance through area radio and television stations. Disappointed visitors were told they could come back the next day and buy regular $7 tickets for adults and $6 tickets for children and seniors.  For feature story, see McDonnell Planetarium.
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