Bethlehem Space & Exploration Center

A space science, engineering, education and exploration center for Bethlehem (hands-on missions, free public programs, research space), proposed independently by David Fischbarg.

Planning phase

Nothing is secured: no land, approvals, funding, legal entity or partner. No organization named has agreed to anything. Aethon has not set up, funded or committed to this center. Not an official project of, or endorsed by, Lehigh University or the City of Bethlehem.

Approximate areas

Where: studied, not selected

Front door: South Bethlehem, near Third Street
Research home: Mountaintop, only if Lehigh invites it (not asked yet)
Later option: Center Valley, after 2030, only if still listed and funded

Launch is kept separate: no launch site in Bethlehem, and no rockets inside the red line (about 5 nm from the runways) without FAA authorization (our rule).

Next steps to 2030 · targets

Form the nonprofit
Register as a charity
Run a first pilot program
Sign a school or partner agreement
Secure a host or lease, with first-year funding

By about 2030 (target): 3,000–7,000 sq ft (279–650 m²) in an existing building.

People and planet: For students, families and early-career engineers. It protects people, the night sky, water, land and wildlife, and the air; every site and event sorts recycling, compost and reuse, salvages materials when it redevelops or adapts a building, and composts food and garden waste where possible.