Date of Award

May 2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Space Studies

First Advisor

Francisco Del Canto Viterale

Abstract

For over a century, planetariums have served as educational hubs for workforce development and cultivating public support for the space industry. However, the rate of new planetariums has slowed dramatically in the past few decades, with many existing planetariums facing significant challenges. While ongoing conversations within the planetarium community highlight these concerns, little scientific knowledge exists about the factors influencing planetarium success. To address this gap, this thesis presents the results of a mixed-methods survey of 31 planetarium professionals across the United States. Participants are mostly experienced planetarium managers in small, analog-based planetariums. Results suggest that success is primarily influenced by staff competency, programming decisions, adequate funding, and support from governing institutions and surrounding communities. Survey data revealed that professionals in the field hold a moderately pessimistic outlook about the future and identified opportunities for planetariums to strengthen their internal capacities. Practical strategies and recommendations for future work are discussed.

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