Through eight case studies, the exhibit characterizes innovative engineering, such as challenging conventions, visualizing new possibilities, and reorienting priorities. The sweep of modern engineering is illustrated by a range of cases, from designing roller coasters to the construction of Colorado's Hanging Lake Viaduct and Voyager 2's exploration of distant planets. Visitors are encouraged to exercise their own creativity in a series of games and puzzles and to think about how creativity and engineering are constantly remaking our world. A Voyager test model is checked out. Voyager 2 Outer space exploration is one of the last places we expect engineers to improvise.
Few activities appear to be so thoroughly planned from start to finish.
But in space improvisation becomes essential to the creative engineers' contribution. The Voyager 2 space probe was launched 1977. Designed to operate for 5 years it ended, up carrying out important mission for more than twelve and is still sending data back to earth, now from far beyond the most distant planet. To do this successfully, Voyager 2 had to be constantly re-engineered, repaired, reprogrammed and reconfigured. In the late twentieth century, advances in mathematics and computer technology have created an exciting new tool for visualizing things being built or imagined.