McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center

Science Center And Planetarium In Concord Named For Christa McAuliffe, The Concord Teacher Lost On Challenger In 1986, And Alan Shepard Of Derry, The First American In Space In 1961. · Concord, New Hampshire

A science center and planetarium in Concord, the state capital, that honours two New Hampshire space pioneers: Christa McAuliffe, the Concord High School teacher chosen as the first teacher in space, who was lost with the crew of the Space Shuttle Challenger in January 1986, and Alan Shepard of Derry, who became the first American in space in May 1961 and later walked on the Moon with Apollo 14. It opened as a planetarium named for McAuliffe, around 1990 (confirm), and was later enlarged and renamed to include Shepard. Inside are hands-on exhibits on rockets, astronomy, Earth science and flight, displays on the two astronauts, and a domed digital planetarium with shows on the night sky and space. A full-size replica of the Mercury-Redstone rocket that carried Shepard has been displayed outside (confirm it is still there). The center has held evening observing sessions with telescopes when skies are clear. It sits on the campus of NHTI, Concord's community college, about five minutes off Interstate 93, and suits families with school-age children for a half day.

2 Institute Drive, Concord, New Hampshire, 03301, United States

The center has been open on a reduced weekly schedule rather than every day, commonly Friday to Sunday with extra days in school vacations and summer (confirm the current days), during daytime hours roughly from 10 am to late afternoon, with the last planetarium show before closing. It closes on major holidays and on some weekdays in the school year, when it is booked by school groups. Evening observing sessions and special events run on set dates, often about monthly and only in clear weather. Planetarium show times are set daily and can sell out. Confirm hours and show times before driving in, as they have changed often.

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