The St. Louis Science Center's completely-redone Planetarium has plenty of neat things for kids. The grand re-opening is Friday, June 22.

The exterior of the James S. McDonnell Planetarium keeps its distinctive hour-glass shape. It looks like a round building that had it's belt tightened too much. It's located just across Highway 40 from the new Science Center building.

While the outside looks the same, the inside has been completely redone. The remodeling cost $13 million.

The ground level is called the "SkyPort." It shows visitors what the "airport of the future" might look like. There are live theater productions and even a video/computer link to NASA's TV system.

The top two levels are the Boeing Space Station.

First, there is the "StarBay." That's where you can see a projection of the sky with all sorts of stars blinking. There are also Space Station labs, where you can see how astronauts live in space.

There is a sleeping bunk attached to a wall. The astronaut can sleep standing up but has to be strapped in so he doesn't float away.

The third level is called "StarBridge." That's where you get to do experiments based on problems that come up on a space station. For instance, one hands-on exhibit lets you try out different patches that are needed if a small meteorite pokes a hole in the space station.

The grand re-opening is from 4 p.m. to midnight on Friday, June 22.

There will be fireworks, a laser show, appearances by the St. Louis Symphony and also live bands.

For information about St. Louis Science Center activities, call (314) 289-4419 or log on to the center's website at www.slsc.org.