Updated, immersive learning space is part of Mi-Sci’s bold “Hyperspace Initiative”
Detroit, Mich., December 3, 2025 – After a year-long transformation, the Michigan Science Center (Mi-Sci) will reopen its fully renovated and upgraded Planetarium Theater on Friday, December 12, marking a major milestone in the institution’s multi-year Hyperspace Initiative to reimagine space science education for Detroit and beyond.
This state-of-the-art renovation and technology upgrade enables Mi-Sci to create a next-generation immersive environment featuring 8K digital projection, real-time scientific data visualization tools, an advanced NanoSeam® dome, new inclined seating, and an upgraded 5.1 audio system. Stellantis Philanthropy played a key role in supporting Mi-Sci’s mission to inspire future innovators, reinforcing its commitment to education and community impact. Mi-Sci will also premiere Hyperspace: A Stellar Odyssey, presented by Stellantis, as its new flagship planetarium show. Together, these enhancements dramatically elevate the overall guest experience, transporting visitors through hyperspace to stunning astronomical vistas without ever leaving the Detroit area.
“Our team has worked tirelessly over the last year to bring children, families, school groups, and space enthusiasts one of the most immersive space experiences we can create here on Earth,” said Dr. Christian Greer, President and CEO of the Michigan Science Center. “The support of our funders has empowered us not only to modernize the planetarium but to dream bigger and combine astrophysics with dramatic moments of awe to inspire guests of all ages. If you love science fiction, cosmic journeys, or simply looking up at the night sky to wonder what’s beyond, this show is definitely for you.”
“As someone who has spent years in the planetarium, building shows, installing projectors, and making sure every star shines exactly the way it should, this project has been nothing short of a dream,” said Paulette Epstein, Director of Theaters at Mi-Sci and the internal project manager for the renovation. “With support from a NASA grant, we were able to bring celestial objects created by Detroit teens into the show. They really didn’t want the program to end, but seeing them watch their own stars and planets light up the dome was a moment none of us will forget.”
“Working alongside the Senior Navigator teens in the NASA-funded Urban Skies program, seeing them interpret the universe through their own lenses, has been extraordinarily inspiring,” added Dr. Ed Cackett, Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Wayne State University and Mi-Sci’s Astronomer in Residence and Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies. “Their creativity, curiosity, and commitment remind us that astronomy isn’t just about stars and galaxies. It’s about empowering people to explore the universe in their own way.
Mi-Sci’s Hyperspace Initiative
The Michigan Science Center’s core mission is to put YOU at the center of science and advance STEAM learning (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) across all ages and disciplines through discovery, innovation, and interactive education. As a STEAM hub, Mi-Sci focuses on developing and facilitating onsite, offsite, and online STEAM education programs, exhibits, and events to empower and enrich the lives of our children and community.
“We want to cultivate a lifelong passion for learning through personalized, immersive, interactive, and playful experiences that connect communities and invite people to see themselves in STEAM,” continued Greer. “One aspect of that work is inspiring curiosity in aviation and space. Mi-Sci’s Hyperspace Initiative is an internal program with three distinct themes, featuring big ideas that represent two new interactive galleries and one new immersive planetarium theater upgrade.
Mi-Sci aims to be a catalyzing force for the future of STEAM education in Detroit and a dynamic destination in Michigan, making itself accessible, engaging, and transformative for all while fostering a vibrant, culturally relevant, community hub where learning is deeply personal, playful, and powerful.
This approach leverages the power of play to engage children in profound learning experiences that promote critical thinking, problem-solving, project-based learning, and creativity. By incorporating hands-on activities, interactive games, and real-world problem-solving scenarios, Mi-Sci will transform the learning landscape and make these subjects more accessible and enjoyable for young learners, fostering a positive attitude towards learning and curiosity about the world.
About The Michigan Science Center
The Michigan Science Center (Mi-Sci) is a Smithsonian affiliate that inspires nearly 250,000 curious minds of all ages every year through STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) discovery, innovation, and interactive education in Detroit and across Michigan. As a STEAM hub, Mi-Sci focuses on developing and introducing expanded education programs, exhibits, and initiatives to empower and enrich our children and community. Through their Traveling Science Program and distance learning initiative, ECHO Live!, Mi-Sci is expanding beyond its Detroit-based facility, with a goal of reaching all 83 counties of Michigan. With the Toyota Engineering 4D Theater, live science demonstrations, lab activities, and 220+ interactive exhibits, there are dozens of ways to customize your Mi-Sci visit. The Michigan Science Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and does not receive funding from Detroit or the state of Michigan. For more information, please call 313.577.8400 or visit the website, Mi-Sci.org.