NASA grant will bring more space programs to Michigan Science Center
Carol Cain
Updated 6 min read
To say Christian Greer is a techie, a Trekkie and a “Star Wars“ devotee would be putting it mildly.
Greer, president and CEO of the Michigan Science Center in Detroit, is proud to say he’s all three and has been infatuated with space since he can remember. It explains why when he was in Orlando for a conference last fall and saw on TV that the Artemis I rocket launch, which NASA had postponed earlier that day not far from the hotel he was staying at, would take place later that night, headed for the door and hailed an Uber to take him to Titusville, Florida’s Space View Park, a monument to America's astronauts, to watch the liftoff.
“It was the most expensive ride I’ve ever taken ($125) but it was worth it. I have always wanted to see a rocket launch,” he explained, as he figured this might be his only chance.
Spectators watch as the Artemis I unmanned lunar rocket lifts off from launch pad 39B at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida on Nov. 16, 2022.
“It was like nothing I have ever seen. The sky lit up like it was daytime. It was awesome,” he said.
Greer's hoping to bring that kind of enthusiasm for space to youths at the science center, with some help from NASA.
The federal agency announced grant awards on June 22 to 21 museums, science centers and educational facilities across the country, with the Michigan Science Center receiving nearly $800,000 over three years to create a new program to highlight space and STEM. It’s part of NASA's Next Generation STEM initiative, called NASA’s TEAM II Program, which is intended to bring the excitement of space science to communities.
Greer knows exposing young people to careers and opportunities in space, aviation, defense and technology through education and programs is key, particularly in urban areas.
“This funding will enable us to bring the wonders of space science closer to our community and ignite a passion for STEM education among Michigan's youth,” said Greer. “We believe that by engaging students, caregivers, and educators in exploring NASA's missions and discoveries, we can empower them to unlock their potential and make significant contributions to the scientific advancements of the future.”
The Michigan Science Center is photographed in Detroit, Mich., Sunday, April 22, 2018.
"Urban Skies – Equitable Universe: Using Open Space to Empower Youth to Explore Their Solar System and Beyond" is the title of the program the Michigan Science Center pitched to NASA and is being created to roll out shortly.
As part of the project, the Michigan Science Center will leverage open spaces in urban areas to host immersive learning experiences, encourage students to explore the wonders of the solar system and inspire them to dream big about their place in the universe.
Eyes to the skies
Greer was born in 1969, the year Apollo 11 landed on the moon. His fascination about space was stoked by watching reruns of the iconic 1960s TV show “Star Trek” and spinoff movies, as well as “Star Wars” movies.
The studious-minded Greer went on to obtain an undergraduate degree in physics from Morehouse College and a doctorate in learning technologies from Pepperdine University.
Christian Greer, CEO and President of Michigan Science Center in Detroit
He came to Detroit from St. Louis, where he was the chief officer for science education and experience at the Saint Louis Science Center, to serve as president and CEO of the Michigan Science Center.
He has shepherded the nonprofit during some challenging times, including the pandemic, and water damage during the summer of 2021, which devastated the basement of the facility where the IMAX Dome Theatre is located.
“We were incredibly fortunate that our 15/70 film projector — which was purchased in 1978 — was OK,” he added. The science center uses the projector for its IMAX viewing.
Times are looking up as the educational center, which reaches over 250,000 people a year in combined on and off-site programs, had to dig deep to right-size its finances and reorganize its staff. The science center operates on a $5.5 million annual budget, funded mainly through grants, sponsorships, donations and memberships.
It now offers "Traveling Science" programs and an upgraded portable digital planetarium dome to schools and libraries across the state.
And that flooded movie theater? It was repaired and has new seating as the science center has sold out of its afternoon and evening shows the past few weeks as the blockbuster film “Oppenheimer” is shown. It is doing so in partnership with Universal Pictures and IMAX and just extended the run of the film there through Aug. 17.
Sky's the limit
Greer is looking forward to collaborating with NASA and its partners to help inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers and innovators. He is also leading the development of a new initiative, called “Hyperspace,” with the goal to bring an interactive aviation and space-themed exhibition gallery and full dome immersive digital planetarium to Detroit.
The science center is also renovating its popular space gallery and rocket park area with newer rocket designs, such as NASA’s Artemis and Space X’s Starship. A planetarium upgrade to a multichannel full dome digital system will allow visitors to "fly through the universe" on imaginary journeys through space and time, Greer said.
The Michigan Science Center is looking to make improvements to its space gallery and rocket park area.
In the real world, Artemis I is laying the groundwork for Artemis II, which NASA announced April 3 will head toward the moon and circle it as part of a mission with four astronauts on board, three from NASA and one from the Canadian Space Agency. NASA commander Reid Wiseman, NASA pilot Victor Glover, NASA mission specialist Christina Koch (who is from Grand Rapids) and CSA mission specialist Jeremy Hansen are scheduled to fly around the moon in late 2024. It’s the next step as the Artemis III crew will eventually head to the moon and walk on it as Neil Armstrong, who was part of the Apollo 11 crew did in 1969.
“As Capt. Kirk (of the original ‘Star Trek’ ) says in the show’s open, ‘space is the final frontier.’ We are going to create programs to inspire more young people and help them learn more and dream about careers and opportunities," Greer said.
“My 10-year-old son, who is in Mi-Sci’s Spark! Camp this summer, and his generation will watch later this year when Artemis II flies around the moon and then, a year later, when the next Artemis mission lands on the moon. And they’ll likely live to see us eventually land on Mars, too.”
“The opportunities are endless and I am so excited to know we will be helping to inspire a new generation,” Greer said.
For more information on the Michigan Science Center: www.mi-sci.org or 313-577-8400.
