New Show Features Effort Required to be an Astronaut

KINGSPORT – Beginning with our earliest understanding of the stars in the night sky, its the dream of many children: becoming an astronaut one day.  Bays Mountain Park and Planetariums new show Astronaut allows us all to revisit those dreams, detailing what it takes to become a member of this select field of exploration and research.

Astronaut, narrated by famed actor Ewan McGregor, is a full-dome presentation that takes the viewer deeper into the journey of becoming an astronaut and the rigors one must endure in the name of space science.  Experience a rocket launch from inside the human body, and witness in amazing detail the physical impact a variety of space activities have on the body.

Produced by NSC Creative, Astronaut opened this past Tuesday to a sold out audience.  The show is part of a triple-feature that also includes a live presentation highlighting the current night sky pointing out constellations and planets that are easily visible.  The third and final feature is a short presentation on space exploration of the past and where we are going.  A fun, live activity caps the event.

Astronaut can be seen Tuesday thru Friday at 4:00 p.m., and on the weekends at 1:00 and 4:00 p.m.  Tickets are $4.00 per person and can be purchased at the gift shop located in the Nature Center.

Annually, more than 150,000 visitors pass through Bays Mountain Park making it one of the State of Tennessees Top 50 Most Visited Attractions, according to the State of Tennessee Department of Tourist Development.

One of the nations largest city-owned parks with 3,550 acres, Bays Mountain Park features 40 miles of hiking trails, a state-of-the-art planetarium, wildlife habitats, fun exhibits, a 44-acre lake, ropes course with zip line, trails for mountain biking and much, much more.