Today started off with Biosphere 2. We all sat excited in the van and peering out the windows ready to experience and investigate the site. We drove down a winding road that lead us to Biosphere 2’s location were we could see the glass utopia in the distance sunken into a basin. There were multiple buildings - all with their own unique design. The glass structure was made up of a triangle pattern, which became more detailed as we neared. The reality that we were really here began to sink in - a place we had only seen through images and read about in articles. Shana and Brent made sure we were educated about the Biosphere and its function prior to the trip starting, so we had knowledge of what the Biosphere 2 was like when functioning and what it was post-experiment.
The Biosphere 2 began in 1984 and is “the largest sealed environment ever created, constructed at a cost of $200 million - with in this structure there is a multiple climates with its own one million gallon artificial sea.” Biosphere was seen as the “first large habitat for humans that would live and breathe on its own." But it was seen as a expensive failure due to poor management resulting in some staff being escorted away by police, divides that grew between the human inhabitants, leaked information that an inhabitant had left and come back, and the fact that oxygen had to be brought in due to lack of air.
Opposite that, Bill Dempster, the project’s engineering systems director and designer of the Biosphere’s remarkable lungs, says that his team views the Biosphere 2 as “a tremendous success.” Even when the experiments “fail”, there is still a learning experience happening, right?
The entrance of the Biosphere 2 was what looked like a submarine door into an unknown world. From the exterior the buildings looked like futuristic chambers you would see in 1950’s fantasy sci-fi films. But after entering, walking through the different climates and exploring the basement (which held the water system and the “lungs”), it became more complex. The Biosphere 2 was an impressive idea full of visually beautiful habitats and experiments - but it seemed to be falling apart.
We left Biosphere 2 not satisfied with the tour: 1. The tour seemed to be scripted.
2. We came with many questions and curiosities about this experiment, yet left with no answers.
3. There was no maintenance of the different climates and they had diminished or were taken over by ants.
4. The structure of the tour was very controlled - like a secret experiment.
5. In all, the Biosphere 2 seemed to be in a state of denial and/or identity crisis.
Going back to the idea of the Biosphere 2 being a total failure - my thoughts are that even when an experiment fails, there is still learning happening and when mistakes are made you fix them and learn. It seemed like they were not accepting the failure as a simple error and were uncomfortable discussing what went on inside. The tour seemed very scripted and did the Biosphere no justice. Whenever someone asked a question the tour guide alluded away from the question and gave an unclear answer leaving us in a state of confusion. At times he seemed irritated with our questions. Overall the tour seemed very controlled and comparable to how controlled science can be. This unpleasing tour affected and changed our perceptions of the institution behind Biosphere 2 and made us frustrated. Even the art gallery in the visitor's center seemed to be a selective choice of artist.
It seemed the mindset behind the Biosphere 2 was that it was an expensive experiment they spent so much money on they did not want to get rid of it - resulting in an identity crisis from not having a set purpose or the ability to articulate their mission. This may have been from the multiple exchange of hands in ownership. For example, the million-gallon artificial sea was not being utilized - it was completely empty of life forms. The area near the viewing window was transformed into a childish under-the-sea exhibit that did not pertain to anything talked about on the tour. It seemed like a filler exhibit that was clearly not thought out.
The Biosphere 2 is comparable to a preteen person - awkward, transitioning through changes, and experiencing an identity crisis - resulting in being misunderstood.
Walking into the Titan Missile Museum, our second stop on Day 5, we first entered the gift shop like every other museum we had been in so far on this adventures road trip. The lobby was split between a missile artifact museum that filled your brain with every ounce of missile information and a gift shop that was stocked with fun toys and souvenirs. Many of the students ended up purchasing interesting items and trinkets, such as patches, pens, postcards, and books.
As I sat in the waiting chairs and waiting for our tour to start - I observed the museum and saw it as a classic tourist attraction. The tourists wore hats, cameras, high white socks, fanny packs, and pushed children in strollers. The Titan Missile Museum is defiantly a family destination. Many veterans were in attendance because of it being Memorial Day weekend.
We were welcomed by a older gentleman that reminded me of my dad and what he may look and act like in 20 years. The cute old man had us watch a short video that showed us the Titan military base when it was functioning. The video was meant to be somewhat serious but was seen humorous to us, as the host of the video had a bleach-tipped ponytail and the seamless editing was just was not working.
The museum is run on a volunteer basis and the volunteers were all knowledgable on the subject matter. Our tour guide answered our questions with pleasure.
Highlights of the visit:
- The Titan Missile Museum is the only missile silo of its kind left.
- It was one of the first units in the military to hire women.
- Jenna and Caitlin were chosen to "launch" the missile.
- Brandon, Zach, Brent, and Ayla had to wear hard hats because of their height and the low ceilings in the silo.
- Caitlin staged a photo shoot outside in front of old missile parts.
-Maeve Jackson
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