Space Exploration Day at MOSI

Celebrate Space Exploration Day at MOSI!

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July 20 marks Space Exploration Day, a day to celebrate the 56th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing when Neil Armstrong made that “one giant leap for mankind” and became the first human to set foot on the moon along with Buzz Aldrin.

The day was first proclaimed by President Ronald Reagan in 1984 to inspire youth in space science and exploration. Today, we can continue to inspire our kids with the wonders of space with a visit to Tampa’s Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI).

Did you know that during your visit to MOSI you can…

 

Space Exploration Day at MOSI Apollo 11

Touch a Moonrock

Yes, there is a real moon rock on display at MOSI, and you can see what it feels like.

Smell the Moon

While not the actual scent from the moon, it is a whiff of what astronauts say the moon smells like, often described as “spent gunpowder.” This is the smell they reported when boarding the lunar module.

Explore Space Walk

See how your foot compares to a footprint from a space boot, explore space exploration memorabilia, and even check out an athletic shoe created in partnership with NASA and Adidas. You can even snap a picture with a tire from the space shuttle that flew in space.

Play in Mission: Moonbase

This immersive exhibit covering 2,500 square feet launches you from Tampa up to the moon, and you get to watch on screen as Tampa Bay appears smaller and smaller. Once on the “surface of the moon,” you step inside the moon base where kids can play in several different interactive exhibits, whether it’s driving a lunar rover or performing experiments. Kids love this cool space!

Celebrate Space Exploration Day at MOSI!
Photo Credit: MOSI

See a Moon Tree

MOSI was one of the first locations selected nationwide to receive a Moon Tree grown from a seed that flew around the moon aboard the Artemis 1 spacecraft in 2022. The Sweetgum tree was planted last year in MOSI’s Science Park in honor of the 55th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing.

Space Exploration Day at MOSI Moon

Take a selfie with the Moon Man

Find him on the SciLinx mini golf course in MOSI’s Science Park.

Soar to the stars in the new planetarium

There are several different movies on schedule each day that will launch you into the wonders of outer space. When you go, you’ll be sitting inside Florida’s largest digital dome theater and planetarium, which is also the country’s second largest!

Be the Astronaut

This exhibit, which was created in coordination with NASA and launched last year, allows you to pick a mission to the Moon or Mars and go through the steps that real astronauts take to program a launch and flight.

BONUS: Taste Space Ice Cream!

You can purchase freeze-dried space ice cream in MOSI’s gift shop, a fun and tasty way to wrap up your out-of-this-world adventure!

Moon Facts from NASA:

The Moon is an average of 238,855 miles (384,400 kilometers) away. That means 30 Earth-sized planets could fit in between Earth and the Moon.

The Moon is slowly moving away from Earth, getting about an inch farther away each year.

Learn more: MOSI.org

 

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Originally published in the July 2025 issue of Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine.