Christie and Space Shuttle Endeavour Launch Guests into the Cosmos at California Space Center Discovery Ball

	The California Science Center's annual Discovery Ball charity event under the wings of the Space Shuttle Endeavour.

Christie technology and the Space Shuttle Endeavour journeyed to the cosmos in an extraordinary visual display created by BARTKRESA Design at the California Science Center's annual Discovery Ball charity event. In line with the evening's theme: "Space Exploration: Past, Present, Future," guests dined beneath Endeavour's enormous wings while nine Christie Roadster S+20K three-chip DLP projectors displayed a night sky replete with stars, planets, comets, and other galactic matter on the front and two side walls -- including one portion of the show displaying a gorgeous multi-hued sunset morphing into a clear, star-filled night sky. The fourth wall contained a starry backdrop using lights.

"This was an exciting project to work on because I am always looking for opportunities to make the most of the architecture I have to work with and even making it part of the display if that is feasible," said Bart Kresa, founder and projection designer, BARTKRESA Design. "One part of the show using the Christie projectors included both the sky and background looking like you were at Kennedy Space Center. We also showed views as if you were taking off on the shuttle followed by views of both the earth and space from orbit."

With crossbeams, girders, and the shuttle itself overhead in the pavilion hangar, Kresa's challenge was how to map everything cleanly without breaking up the images.

"I knew that if we just projected over everything it would not look professional, the image would break up because of the beams," said Kresa. "We started by creating the design for the background and separated the elements in the show from the construction elements. We ended up projecting at angles. Because the space shuttle took up pretty much the entire hangar, we had to place the gear -- including the projectors -- in odd spaces. We placed some projectors underneath the trunk of the shuttle and used the Christie projectors' keystone correction to make it all come together. Everything looked wonderful and it was really something to see."

"Christie projectors are just great; they provide beautiful images and exceptional color," he concluded. "They are very durable and the overall performance is excellent. I just love working with Christie projectors."

Kresa has used Christie on other projects, including Shark Week, and continues to be excited to work with Christie technology.