Space Day 2015…
NASA Astronaut Visit Highlights Celebration at Roper Mountain Science Center!
Greenville, SC May 9, 2015
Space Day is an award-winning educational initiative that seeks to advance science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education. It also helps to inspire young people to realize the vision of our space pioneers.
Space Day 2015 celebration will take place from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 9th at Roper Mountain Science Center. Featured guest speaker will be former NASA Astronaut Roger K. Crouch, Ph.D at 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.
Crouch flew on the STS-83 and STS-94 missions, logging over 471 hours in space. STS-83, the Microgravity Science Laboratory (MSL-1) Spacelab mission, was cut short because of problems with one of the Shuttle’s fuel cell power units. Mission duration was 95 hours and 12 minutes, traveling 1.5 million miles in 63 orbits. STS-94 was a reflight of the MSL-1 and focused on materials and combustion science research. Mission duration was 376 hours and 45 minutes, traveling 6.3 million miles in 251 orbits of the Earth. Crouch has delivered numerous inspirational speeches about his time spent living in space to a broad range of audiences.
Additional Space Day 2015 Activities include:
- Model rocket launches, rocket balloons, stomp rockets, and have your questions answered about rocketry and the future of the Space Program.
- Columbia Challenger Center will have Flight Simulator software and small robots on hand for visitors to test.
- Wade Hampton High General Robotics Team will allow visitors of all ages the chance to experience hands on activities in the Space Lab. See and drive Robots, make end effectors out of Styrofoam cups, and experience the vacuum of space.
- East North Street Academy will conduct a meteorite crater hands on activity with visitors.
- Western Carolina Remote Control Club flying small planes and helicopters on the Living History Farm!
- Skilled amateur astronomers will be on hand to demonstrate and discuss telescopes with solar viewing outside the Daniel Observatory!
Other activities will include the planetarium show Astronaut in the Hooper Planetarium at 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Visit the Discovery Rooms in the Harrison Hall of Natural Science to touch and hold live animals and learn about animals in space! In the Rainforest, celebrate International Migratory Bird Day and touch and hold some tropical animals. In the Marine Lab visitors can observe and touch live animals and learn about endangered species in our state in the Ecology Lab. Visit the butterfly garden to buy some milkweed to help save the monarch butterfly and get help in "Planting your Spring Garden" with presentations at 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. Or step back in time with a visit to our Living History Farm.
Roper Mountain Science Center is open to the public on the Second Saturday of each month.
Space Day 2015! Saturday hours are 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Admission is: $5 for children (age 5-12); $6 for Teens and Adults (ages 13-59); and $5 for senior citizens (age 60 and over). All events are included in the general admission to the Center. No admission is charged for children 4 and under or RMSC Association members.
Roper Mountain Science Center is owned and operated by Greenville County Schools as an educational resource for teachers, students, families and adults. Roper Mountain Science Center is located at 402 Roper Mountain Road, Greenville, South Carolina. Check out the Center's website at www.RoperMountain.org for directions to the Center or information about special events and other programs. For further information, please call the Center at 864.355.8900.