posted 10-22-2009 10:13 PM               

Johnson Space Center Hosts Open House and Ballunar Liftoff Festival

On Oct. 24, Johnson Space Center (JSC) will open its doors to the public as part of the 16th Annual Ballunar Liftoff Festival. Visitors will have a chance to help celebrate NASA's past, present and future during a special storytelling event scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Teague Auditorium located in Building 2 North.

Presentations will include stories from the Apollo era given by the NASA Alumni League, spacesuit and space food demonstrations showing the challenges of living and working in space, and a glimpse into NASA's future plans for returning humans to the moon, Mars and beyond. A variety of informational videos and documentaries will be shown to offer audiences a historic space exploration experience.

A total of eight buildings will be open to the public during the JSC Open House. The historic Apollo Mission Control Room, Space Shuttle Flight Control Room and Lunar Habitat Mockups are a few of the recommended tour stops. Also included is the Saturn V Launch Vehicle Building with exhibits and special attractions.

Visitors can also touch a moon rock, get an astronaut autograph and see the Lunar Electric Rover at the Experience NASA exhibit located between buildings 14 and 44.

posted 10-22-2009 10:16 PM               

• 10-11 a.m.: The International Space Station: Living and Working in Space
  Presented by Ken Human, ISS Program Office

• 11-12:15 p.m.: Space Exploration Videos

• 12:15-1 p.m.: Science Channel's Moon Machines - Spacesuits

• 1-1:30 p.m.: Space Suits: What to Wear When You Are Out There
  Presented by Heather Paul, Spacesuit Engineer

• 1:30-2 p.m.: Space Food: What's for Dinner in Space
  Presented by Vickie Kloeris, Space Food Scientist

• 2-3 p.m.: Stories from the Apollo Era
  Presented by Frank Hughes and Norm Chaffee, NASA Alumni League

• 3-4 p.m.: Exploring the Moon and Mars
  Presented by John Connolly, Lunar Lander Designer

• 4-5 p.m. Science Channel's Moon Machines - Lunar Rover

posted 10-23-2009 10:15 PM               

Credit: collectSPACE

Max Q, the all-astronaut band. From left: Dan Burbank, Drew Feustel, Steve Robinson, Tracy Caldwell-Dyson, Kevin Ford, Chris Hadfield and Ken Cockrell.