Galactic Getaway: Bringing Free, Museum-Quality Rocket Exhibits to Every Community
Museum-quality space education is not equally distributed. Galactic Getaway closes that gap by bringing exhibits to underserved Bay Area communities and Stanford, sparking curiosity in 60,000+ minds from a Pittsburg six-year-old pressing her face against the glass to Stanford professors.
A child in Pittsburg (CA) and one in Palo Alto live thirty miles apart. But museum-quality science does not reach them equally. Space still feels like someone else’s story in underserved communities. So I went looking for a way to close that distance.
I founded Galactic Getaway to bring free, museum-quality rocket model exhibits into public libraries across the Bay Area. I raised over $27,000, sourced models from international fabricators, and installed exhibits in 18+ venues reaching over 60,000 people in cities like Pittsburg, San Lorenzo, and Milpitas where hands-on STEM access is limited.
The response surprised me every time. Families returned specifically to revisit. Libraries restocked space book sections because visitors checked out every title. Kids who had never asked a science question stayed thirty minutes asking me questions they did not know they had. The exhibit ended but the curiosity did not.
Stanford’s Aeronautics and Astronautics department invited me to install twice. That recognition opened doors, but what mattered more was what it made possible. I am now collaborating with Stanford researchers to study whether AI-powered smart glasses improve how visitors engage with exhibits. If the data says yes, that is not just a finding. That is the blueprint for taking this to every library in America.
The project has been recognized by the California Governor, the Secretary of State, Blue Origin’s Club for the Future, and multiple city mayors.
This started in one library. It belongs in every library, school and college in America.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Saanvi Phaneendra?
Saanvi Phaneendra is the founder and executive director of Galactic Getaway, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that brings free, museum-quality rocket model exhibits to libraries and community spaces across the San Francisco Bay Area. She is an Eagle Scout and hosts Space Spotlight on Express Yourself! Teen Radio.
What is Galactic Getaway?
Galactic Getaway is a youth-led educational nonprofit founded in 2024. Its free exhibits of 1:144 scale next-generation rocket models have reached more than 60,000 people at 18+ Bay Area venues, including public libraries and Stanford’s Aeronautics and Astronautics department.
How did Galactic Getaway start?
In April 2023, Saanvi was at Starbase, Texas for Starship’s first integrated flight test and felt the sonic boom. She wanted kids who may never see a launch to see rockets up close, so the idea grew into her Eagle Scout project and then into Galactic Getaway.
Where can I see the rocket exhibit?
The exhibit rotates between libraries, colleges and community spaces every few weeks. See current and past stops on the Exhibit Locations page.
Is the exhibit free?
Yes. Galactic Getaway exhibits are always free to visit, and libraries, schools, museums and community centers can host a 2 to 4 week rotation at no cost.
Which rockets are in the collection?
The collection includes SpaceX’s Starship, Falcon Heavy and Falcon 9, NASA’s SLS, ULA’s Vulcan Centaur, Blue Origin’s New Glenn, Rocket Lab’s Neutron and Relativity’s Terran R, plus international rockets like Europe’s Ariane 6, China’s Long March 9 and Russia’s Angara A5V and Yenisei.