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Great Photo Opportunity: Space Day 2004

Posted on: Thursday, 29 April 2004, 06:00 CDT

EAGAN, Minn., April 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --

WHAT: Stars, planets and astronauts ... oh my!

NASA Astronaut Dr. Story Musgrave kicks off Space Day 2004

celebration

WHEN: Saturday, May 1

11 a.m. - 11 p.m.

WHERE: Eisenhower Community Center

1001 West Highway 7, Hopkins.

DETAILS: Minnesotans of all ages will have the chance to blaze galactic

trails and imagine a future of space exploration during Space Day

2004, hosted by the Minnesota Planetarium and Lockheed Martin.

The event is free and open to the public. Featured events

include (a complete event schedule is attached):

-- 11 a.m. -- NASA Astronaut, Dr. Story Musgrave, one of NASA's

most experienced astronauts. With a 30 year career spanning

the Apollo era of the 1960s right through to the Space

Shuttle program of the 1990s, he is the only astronaut to

have flown on all five Space Shuttles. He has traveled 20

million miles, logged 1,200 hours of spaceflight and orbited

the Earth 788 times.

-- 1 p.m. -- The Physics Force, University of Minnesota,

featuring demonstrations that make science exciting for

students of all ages. After all, why implode a pop can when

a 55-gallon drum is available?

-- 2:30 p.m. -- Mars Rocks! See the red planet in 3-D with the

Science Museum of Minnesota. You can also view the latest

pictures from the Mars Rovers Spirit & Opportunity and

examine a real rock from Mars!

Space Days Background

The Space Day educational initiative was established in 1997 and is supported by the Space Day Foundation, a non-profit organization that is committed to using space to motivate students to become involved in science, technology, engineering and math. More information is available at the Space Day Web site: http://www.spaceday.org/ .

The Minnesota Planetarium Society (MnPS) is a non-profit organization dedicated to help build and operate a new state-of-the-art Minnesota Planetarium. The MnPS is a diverse group of business executives, astronomers, and educators who understand that a Planetarium provides an essential educational experience.

Headquartered in Bethesda, MD, Lockheed Martin employs about 130,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems, products and services.

SPACE DAY 2004 CELEBRATION

EISENHOWER COMMUNITY CENTER -- SATURDAY, MAY 1

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

11 a.m. NASA Astronaut, Dr. Story Musgrave

Story Musgrave is one of NASA's most experienced astronauts.

With a 30 year career spanning the Apollo era of the 1960s

right through to the Space Shuttle program of the 1990s, he

is the only astronaut to have flown on all five Space

Shuttles. He is also a pilot, surgeon, mechanic, poet and

philosopher. Dr. Musgrave flew six Space Shuttle flights.

During these flights, he traveled 20 million miles, and

logged 1,200 hours of spaceflight and orbited the Earth 788

times. He retired from NASA in 1997, and today provides

unique perspective into the future of space exploration.

1 p.m. The Physics Force, University of Minnesota

The Physics Force is a fun and playful presentation by

University of Minnesota professors that makes science

exciting for students of all ages -- from 5 to 105. Their

interactive demonstrations emphasize the process of learning

science, illustrate complex concepts, and prompt further

exploration by students. Each segment of the show begins with

an illustrative demonstration, then escalates the excitement

through even more vivid examples of physics principles.

After all, why implode a pop can when a 55-gallon drum is

available?

1 - 11 p.m. Solar & Night Telescope Observing

Keep your fingers crossed that the weather permits a

spectacular view of the day & night sky. See solar flares,

sunspots, moon craters, a crescent Venus, the moons of

Jupiter and Saturn's rings!

2 - 9 p.m. Ongoing Exhibits and Presentations throughout the day

Family Activity Room:

Make your own balloon rockets! Learn how "Toys in Space"

work. Simulate your own Mars Rover landing with an egg!

Activities courtesy of the Minnesota Space Frontier Society.

3-D Astro-Wall Room:

See an amazing array of astronomy images of the planets and

far away galaxies in 3-D! Immerse yourself in Mars, the

Earth from space and many more. Courtesy of the Science

Museum of Minnesota and the University of Minnesota.

Presentation Room:

Get the latest and greatest about upcoming sky events and

NASA explorations from the NASA's Jet Propulsion Solar System

Ambassadors. Preview the Transit of Venus coming up on the

morning of June 8th -- the first one since 1882! See the

plan for grand Saturn when the spacecraft Cassini arrives on

July 1st -- after a seven year trip. Also, discover how

rockets and unmanned aerial vehicles work with a special

presentation by Lockheed Martin. Scheduled announced day of

event.

Observatory Room:

Learn how a telescope works. Find out what's a good

beginning telescope and various costs.

2:30 p.m. Mars Rocks! Science Museum of Minnesota

Get up close and personal with the red planet and see Mars in

3-D with the Science Museum of Minnesota. You can also view

the latest pictures from the Mars Rovers Spirit & Opportunity

and examine a real rock from Mars!

4 p.m. The New Minnesota Planetarium & Space Discovery Center

See plans and designs for the new Planetarium atop the

Library, scheduled to open in Dec 2006 if funding is

appropriated.

5 - 10 p.m. High Definition Space Theater

See crystal clear, sharp "high def" films on the Sun, Venus,

Mars, Jupiter & Saturn. Films are shown hourly during this

time, with the exception of 7 p.m.

7 p.m. Science from the South Pole, Karina Leppik

Educator Karina Leppik has traveled through Antarctica twice.

Hear about her amazing journeys and how the South Pole has

much in common with outer space.

Lockheed Martin

CONTACT: Sheri Grone of Lockheed Martin, +1-651-456-2210,sheri.t.grone@lmco.com

Web site: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/http://www.spaceday.org/

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