The exhibit, which will feature a large-scale Orion III space plane from Stanley Kubrick's film "2001: A Space Odyssey" and "retro-futuristic" travel posters by artist Steve Thomas, aims to open July 7 in the Ronald Reagan National Airport.

The exhibit will be accompanied by a website and mobile app that will give visitors information about the displays, an interstellar passport and a "boarding pass to the future," according to the Museum of Science Fiction staff. [Science Fact or Fantasy? 20 Imaginary Worlds]

"It really is our first opportunity to do something publicly, and demonstrate our capabilities," said Greg Viggiano, the museum's executive director. Viggiano first had the idea for the exhibit when he was walking through Reagan airport one day. Noticing the concourse's vaulted ceilings, he wondered, "Why isn't there anything cool hanging up there?" he told Live Science.