U.S. Space & Rocket Center debuts weather exhibit
Huntsville continues to reveal its diversity beyond renown as the Rocket City, though space does play a role in an exhibit unveiled Monday at the most visited tourist attraction in the state.
A ribbon-cutting was held for the Baron Critical Weather Institute’s “How We Know The Weather’’ exhibit inside the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. The innovative STEM-based educational attraction includes 30 interactive displays, live feeds and sensory experiences.
Visitors learn about the science of weather and the instruments developed to measure the interaction between the Sun and the Earth. Subjects range from the evolution of weather satellites and radar technology to the science of lightning.
Esteemed longtime city weather expert and 2024 Alabama Business Hall of Fame inductee Bob Baron, founder and CEO of his namesake institute, told those gathered for the celebration that Huntsville through the years has been a “mecca of weather innovation.’’ It’s only fitting the exhibit be housed in the mecca of pay-to-see places in Alabama.
According to Dr. Kimberly Robinson, CEO/COO and executive director of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, the new display is “part of the effort to revitalize our campus.’’ The center was millions of dollars in debt two decades ago and struggled through the Covid 19 pandemic.
“The United States is the mecca of ideas to move the science of weather prediction forward,’’ Robinson said. “The difference between space and weather – they’re inextricably linked. Weather in space affects satellites, launches and space missions. Atmosphere and space both shape life here on Earth.’’
In what has become an oft-repeated happening in the city and county in the Huntsville metro area, Monday’s event drew U.S. Congressmen Dale Strong (R-Monrovia), Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Madison County Commission Chair Mac McCutcheon and many other prominent civic leaders.
Lockheed Martin, presenting sponsor of the ceremony, plays a crucial role in weather and Earth science through the development and deployment of advanced weather satellites, including the GOES-R series that provides data to specialists.
The company’s GOES-R satellites provide imagery, lightning mapping and atmospheric measurements to enhance accuracy and timeliness of weather predictions and warnings. These assets are important to residents not only in Huntsville and the region but throughout the state.
“Research shows Alabama tornadoes are the deadliest in the United States,’’ said Matt Mahlman, weather and earth science director at Lockheed Martin.
Mahlman noted that the ribbon-cutting fell just shy of the 51st anniversary of the April 3-4, 1974 Super Outbreak of twisters that tore through 13 states and Canada that killed 335, injured 6,000 and cost what in today’s currency would be an estimated $5.3 billion.
Among the lethal tornadoes that rolled through North Alabama, one categorized as F3 tore through Huntsville from Redstone Arsenal to Memorial Parkway before crossing Monte Sano. The night’s frenzied weather activity left city and area residents warily watching the skies from then on.
Baron, who longtime city residents remember as the chief meteorologist at WAAY-TV from 1978-1996, founded Baron Weather in 1989 and the Critical Weather Institute in 2016. The exhibit, he said, will inform visitors of “all aspects of life on the planet.’’
The exhibit includes information about tornadoes and hurricanes, including a walk-in tornado shelter. A wind exhibit allows visitors to see patterns of wind movement, and another illustrates how to read radar maps.
The multi-dimensional, analogue-into-digital data exhibit contains much more weather details, including fun facts like fleas bite more before rain, in its 2,500-foot display room.
Of NASA, Baron said, “How gracious, how generous to donate all this space to How To Know The Weather.’’
Battle summed up the latest addition to the museum, calling it a weather predicting “center of excellence.’’
