America's plans for opening the space frontier -- including new human exploration of Earth's moon and future voyages into the solar system beyond -- are featured in an interactive exhibit scheduled to tour North Carolina April 27 - May 9.
Hosted by Cherokee Middle School April 27-28, the free NASA Exploration Experience traveling exhibit gives visitors a vivid glimpse into the nation's ambitious future in space.
"We hope the multimedia experience helps people better understand how the country plans to explore the moon and journey beyond in the next decade or so," said outreach coordinator Kirk Pierce from NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.
The second stop in the North Carolina tour kicks off April 30 - May 2 in Chadbourn, where the exhibit will be on display at the North Carolina Strawberry Festival. The tour continues at the Children's Museum and Science Center in Rocky Mount from May 7 - 9.
"The exhibit simulates a breathtaking visit to the first destination on America's new journey into the solar system: Earth's moon," said Pierce.
"Interactive control panels and activity station, immersive 3D imagery and audio effects will plunge visitors into a not-too-distant future on the moon," Pierce added. "They'll discover what it will be like to live and work on the surfaces of other worlds - and how it will benefit life back home on Earth."
NASA staffers will be available at each tour stop to answer questions and discuss some of the thousands of technologies used on Earth as a result of years of space-based research and development by the agency and its partners.
"Exhibit visitors can learn how our quality of life improves when America's space exploration activities refine existing technologies and develop new breakthroughs in areas such as power generation, computer technology, communications, networking and robotics," said Pierce. Visitors also can learn how other advanced technologies are increasing the safety and reliability of space transportation systems, while also reducing costs.
Touring the NASA Exploration Experience exhibit takes approximately 10 minutes. The exhibit is free and wheelchair-accessible.
NASA's Aerospace Education Services Project (AESP), a NASA resource that delivers education programs in all 50 states and US territories, will support the exhibit. In Cherokee, North Carolina, a day-long professional development program for in-service and/or pre-service teachers will be conducted. Planned topics include Field Trip to the Moon, Moon Geology, and Missions to the Moon.
NASA's Marshall Center manages the traveling exhibit for the agency's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate in Washington. For more information, visit:
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