RALEIGH, N.C., Jan. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- On January 30, 2006 Raleigh's interactive museum Exploris will host a special event to honor the founding of The World Space Center, a non-profit organization committed to promoting awareness of the New Space Age and dedicated to connecting the world to space. Featured attractions of the event include an interactive panel debate, an IMAX screening, and presentations from renowned guest speakers.

This inaugural gathering of The World Space Center will include a panel discussion on the purpose of its scientific mission and the potential and possibilities of the New Space Age. The panel also will consider how mass space travel will convey a new understanding of the Earth to Humanity.

In Exploris' 3D IMAX Theatre, The World Space Center will present a screening of the documentary, "Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon." Following the viewing, Dr. Edgar Mitchell, NASA scientist and astronaut, will lead an interactive question and answer session.

The World Space Center also will announce plans for its first project, an organizational magazine entitled, Overview. The publication will be based on the famous book, The Overview Effect, the first novel of visionary space journalist Frank White. White's innovative philosophy envisions space exploration as the next step in human evolution, arguing that this fundamental transition will expand the basic human consciousness to an awareness centered on the entire galaxy.

Famous guest speakers scheduled to present at the event include: Walter Koenig of Babylon 5's "Bester" and Star Trek's "Chekov;" Dr. Edgar Mitchell, Navy Captain and Apollo 14 astronaut who was the sixth man to set foot on the moon; Dru Blair, world renown aviation airbrush artist; Lloyd Dobyns, Peabody Award winning journalist; Jeff Krukin, Executive Director of the Space Frontier Foundation; David Beaver, Creative Director; Dan Curry, Star Trek's special effects director; and Keith Ferrel, editor of Omni Magazine.

The World Space Center event will be held on Monday, January 30, 2006 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Raleigh's Exploris museum. Exploris is located at 201 East Hargett Street, Raleigh, NC 27601. For more information or detailed directions, contact Exploris by phone at 919-834-4040 or by email at info@exploris.org. To learn more about the upcoming event, contact Britt Carter at Fleishman-Hillard, Inc. at 919-457-0744 or email at carterb@fleishman.com .