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  San Diego Air & Space Museum schedules exhibit, events for 50th anniv. of space race

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Author Topic:   San Diego Air & Space Museum schedules exhibit, events for 50th anniv. of space race
Robert Pearlman
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Posts: 42986
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 09-18-2007 07:32 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
San Diego Air & Space Museum release
San Diego Air & Space Museum to highlight Space Race accomplishments as part of multi-year exhibit and inspirational education thrust

To commemorate the Soviet/United States space race, which commenced in October, 1957... just 50 years ago, the Museum intends to inform visitors about this shocking and world-changing series of events. In the span of just 12 years, acknowledged by experts as the "Space Race" era, man accomplished more technologically than in all the other years of his existence. From the launch of Sputnik, to President Kennedy's acceptance of the challenge to conquer space, to the first man walking on the moon in 1969, these years became the most important of all. The San Diego Air & Space Museum has developed a series of family-friendly talks, free with admission, about space exploration past, present and future, including the search for life on other worlds. The accompanying exhibit and associated special events will inspire young women and men to learn about the challenges of their past, as they accept the challenges of their future and help return us to the moon and beyond. Says Jim Kidrick, Museum President, "The Space Race 12 years is an inspiring story of national will and defined the Soviet and United States relationship then and for many years to follow. This exhibit and associated special events is a must see!"

Dawn of the Space Race: The Day the World Changed
Saturday, October 13 - 1pm - 2:30pm - The mid-1950s were a time of palpable anxiety, much like our own era, as Americans faced an implacable enemy whose every move was shrouded in mystery. In October 1957, fifty years ago, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the first artificial satellite. This first step beyond the bounds of Earth by humans shocked and surprised the world, and our lives have never been the same since.

Matthew Brzezinski, author of the new book "Red Moon Rising: Sputnik and the Hidden Rivalries That Ignited the Space Age," will give a presentation about this turbulent, shocking and dynamic era, when one morning people around the globe woke up, read the newspaper headlines and found that their world had changed forever. He will also explain how Sputnik's legacy continues to affect our lives today, technologically and politically.

A book signing of "Red Moon Rising" will follow immediately after the talk.

Magnificent Desolation: Exploring the remotest regions of Earth, and Life on other Worlds
Sunday, October 21 - 1pm - 2pm - Join Dr. Darlene Lim of NASA and the SETI Institute, as she guides you through some of the latest, cutting-edge research about some of the hottest, coldest, and most barren settings on Earth--regions that are believed to resemble environments on Mars. Her passion for exploring these desolate areas is driven by her desire to explore the unknown, and her enjoyment of the challenges, hardships, and risks of conducting science at the ends of the planet. By exploring some of these desolate regions, we can begin to understand the possibilities for life existing elsewhere in the solar system.

This talk is part of the city wide "Polar Palooza" series of events taking place citywide.

Dynamic and interactive solar system demonstrations of the museum's "Magic Planet" will take place in the museum in the hour before the talk.

The Age of Personal Space Flight is here!
Saturday, October 27 - 1:30pm - 2:30pm - The time when you can buy a ticket to fly in space almost as easily as to cross the Atlantic is rapidly approaching. Join us for a dynamic presentation by Scott Borden of La Jolla's Travel Dynamics Group, who will explain how you can be part of the dawning age of personal space travel, including travel to the edge of space. Scott is an Accredited Space Agent for Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic, who are working to allow you to have the opportunity to journey beyond the atmosphere. Have you dreamed of flying in space? Find out how!

The San Diego Air & Space Museum is California's Official Air & Space Museum and Education Center. The Museum is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and it was the first air & space museum accredited by the American Association of Museums. It is located in the historic Ford Building in Balboa Park, 2001 Pan American Plaza, San Diego 92101. Museum and Gift Store are open daily from 10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m, with admissions until 5:00 p.m. Winter hours: 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with admissions until 4:00 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Admission prices: $15 for Adults/$6 ages 6-17 years/$10 Seniors (65+) and Students with valid ID/ Free Active Duty Military and children under 6/$5 Simulator ride. Behind-the-scenes Restoration Tours are available for an additional $5 per person. (619) 234-8291.

FFrench
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Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 09-24-2007 04:41 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for FFrench     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
One of our space events is a collaborative talk with the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, as part of their "Polar Palooza" events. All of those events are listed here, and include an appearance by astronaut Don Pettit.

FFrench
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Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 10-02-2007 06:35 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for FFrench     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
As part of the preparations for the accompanying exhibition, the museum's lovingly restored Explorer 1 was craned through the back door today - which seemed an appropriate time to re-enact an historic photo...

spaceman1953
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Posts: 953
From: South Bend, IN
Registered: Apr 2002

posted 10-03-2007 06:09 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for spaceman1953   Click Here to Email spaceman1953     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Great spoof, "Frenchie".

E2M Lem Man
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Posts: 846
From: Los Angeles CA. USA
Registered: Jan 2005

posted 10-07-2007 04:41 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for E2M Lem Man   Click Here to Email E2M Lem Man     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Francis, Dr. von French seems to be having a lot of fun with that satellite. Don't let him near a V-2!

FFrench
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Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 10-07-2007 06:02 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for FFrench     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
My family has already been a little too close to V2s for my liking - no joke. My father lived in south London in World War Two, and was close to the tragic New Cross hit that took out a whole block - close enough to see it and feel it, and had the family's shopping plans been different that day, I wouldn't exist.

I certainly had some mixed feelings when, as a teen, I met some of the von Braun Peenemünde team for the first time, I can tell you. Since then, I have come to understand the many sides of a very complex story.

FFrench
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Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 10-15-2007 12:14 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for FFrench     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I love the banners created for this exhibition and series of events - inspired by Soviet imagery, but with an American twist (note the Apollo spacecraft and flag on the moon...)

E2M Lem Man
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Posts: 846
From: Los Angeles CA. USA
Registered: Jan 2005

posted 10-16-2007 01:10 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for E2M Lem Man   Click Here to Email E2M Lem Man     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I attended the first talk about the Sputnik with author Matthew Brzezinski on a cloudy and drizzly Saturday afternoon.

The display is beautiful. The one photo from a Russian tourist book has to be of Sputnik III on it's booster.

The talk was excellent too and we enjoyed ourselves a great deal, and will try to be back there for the space tourism day.

FFrench
Member

Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 10-20-2007 09:58 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for FFrench     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by FFrench:
All of those events are listed here, and include an appearance by astronaut Don Pettit.
Don Pettit gave a great presentation today. He's a very funny guy, a self-confessed "Übernerd" who loved to "play" in space doing little unscheduled experiments.

His talk today was a fascinating comparison between his "frontier living" on ISS and in the Antarctic, where he was part of an expedition to find meteorites, given in almost Woody-Allen-esque style, and followed by an autograph signing session.

The events continue tomorrow with NASA's Darlene Lim.

FFrench
Member

Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 10-27-2007 02:47 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for FFrench     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
A couple of people have called and asked if we are still going ahead with our event today. Yes, we are. We're trying to be a venue where the public can come and relax after the devastating events of this last week. We've been showing free movies the days we've been open too. Our neighbors the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center are reopening today too after being closed all week, and are free to the public all weekend and Monday too.

Jay Chladek
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From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007

posted 10-27-2007 08:57 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Jay Chladek   Click Here to Email Jay Chladek     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
That is some nice artwork there Francis. Who designed it? I also see a couple familiar books sitting in the foreground of the table that Pettit is signing on as well.

As for Pettit's "ubernerd" status, I will say that when I saw him give his talk over a year ago at the SAC Museum near Ashland, it captivated the audience probably better then any other talk I had seen from an astronaut recently. The videos he showed of the behaviour of water in microgravity during his experiments were very fascinating to watch. I do hope one day he can get back up there to continue his science work since we need more "ubernerds" like him.

FFrench
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Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 10-28-2007 11:18 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for FFrench     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Jay Chladek:
I also see a couple familiar books sitting in the foreground of the table that Pettit is signing on as well.
They put me next to him for that event, and had my books for sale as well... which was nice.
quote:
As for Pettit's "Übernerd" status, I will say that when I saw him give his talk over a year ago at the SAC Museum near Ashland, it captivated the audience probably better then any other talk I had seen from an astronaut recently. The videos he showed of the behaviour of water in microgravity during his experiments were very fascinating to watch. I do hope one day he can get back up there to continue his science work since we need more "Übernerds" like him.
Indeed, I like astronauts like him who use their off time to do little private experiments and film them, like his water work - and then share it with those back on Earth. He did similar stuff in the antarctic too.

We had a really good and well-attended talk yesterday too, with a Virgin Galactic rep talking about upcoming plans.

FFrench
Member

Posts: 3161
From: San Diego
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 10-30-2007 06:40 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for FFrench     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Followed up today with another Virgin Galactic event, a business leaders' breakfast and talk by Alex Tai, Director of Operations at Virgin Galactic (who also plans to fly the first commercial flights) which got an interesting associated TV interview on NBC this morning.

All times are CT (US)

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