In many exhibits, the rule is "look, don't touch." But that's not the case with the River Falls public library's new NASA exhibit in the downstairs gallery.

Gallery and event coordinator Katie Chaffee said kids are welcome to touch most items on display -- unless, of course, they're locked in a glass case.

"(Kids') moms say, 'You can't touch that,' " Chaffee said. "I say, 'Actually, you can.' "

The items, on loan from NASA's Houston and Cleveland offices, include a 1/25-scale model of a space shuttle, which stands about 9 feet high. That's high enough that Chaffee and her helpers had to dislodge a ceiling tile to fit the model shuttle into the gallery.

Other items include a "photo opportunity space suit," which is a model of a real space suit with steps in back so people can have their photos taken "in" the suit. There also are replica moon rocks, a space glove and the back tire from a space shuttle.

The space shuttle tire, Chaffee said, doesn't seem very impressive at first, especially not when compared to tractor tires that can stand taller than the average person. The shuttle tire doesn't initially appear much larger than an average truck tire.

However, the shuttle tire can handle a lot more than a truck tire. With very thick walls, and inflated to 340 pounds of air per square inch, it has a 142,000-pound load rating. That means it can carry three times the load of a Boeing 747 jet.

About 146 people went through the exhibit during the first three days. About 100 people attended a program by Jon Montgomery, a River Falls native and director of NASA's Mission Support Office.

"There's a lot of interest, and it's fun because there's something for everybody," Chaffee said.

The exhibit can be exciting for kids -- especially the space food display and the space suit. It's also educational, and kids can touch most of the items.

Excerpt from:

NASA exhibit blasts off at River Falls library