Event blasts off with a galaxy of family fun festivities; Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11 with Smithsonian Channel Screening of “The Day We Walked on the Moon”
Thanks to the Frontiers of Flight Museum, you don’t have to visit a “galaxy far, far away” to experience the wonders of space exploration, astronomy, incredible science exhibits, or an inflatable planetarium! Star gazers and space enthusiasts of all ages can now trek over to the family-fun activities at Moon Day 2019 sponsored by Beal Bank. Visit: Frontiers of Flight Museum Moon Day 2019.
The celebration, which is the biggest annual space exposition in Texas, is set for Saturday, July 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Frontiers of Flight Museum, 6911 Lemmon Ave. Moon Day is free with Museum admission ($7-$10; Museum members and children under 3 are free). Through the Blue Star Museums program, admission is free for active duty military and their families.
Moon Day was created in 2009 by the Frontiers of Flight Museum and the National Space Society of North Texas as an annual event to celebrate space exploration on or near the anniversary of the first Moon landing. The festival is a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) focused space-themed public event, which continues to attract participants across North Texas and beyond. The Museum’s 10th Anniversary Moon Day celebration will also commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing.
As part of the special festivities, the Frontiers of Flight Museum will join the Smithsonian Channel’s Apollo 11 celebration with a screening of “The Day We Walked on the Moon.” The film will be shown in the Museum’s Hamilton Family Auditorium at 2:15 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., presented by the Smithsonian Channel.
The Frontiers of Flight Museum, along with 50 Smithsonian Institution-affiliated museums across the country, will be among the first to screen this new documentary on the actual 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission, which coincides with the Museum’s Moon Day 2019 event.
“While the anniversary of the first lunar landing serves as a reason to celebrate, the Museum and the National Space Society of North Texas are also committed to showcasing the present and future of space exploration,” said Cheryl Sutterfield-Jones, President and CEO, Frontiers of Flight Museum. “Moon Day’s extensive content is provided by local, regional, and national space-related organizations, who work to inspire all ages to embrace a scientific and technological future.”
Moon Day is a community-wide family-fun event that attracts more than 1,500 attendees. Visitors will enjoy a full day of activities featuring space-related displays from over three dozen exhibitors. The first 250 kids through the door will receive a “Lunar Sample Bag” full of space-related posters, magazines, trading cards, and other items.
FEATURED PRESENTATIONS:
Panel Discussion: STEM Education and the Future of Work @ 11:00-11:45 a.m.
Join us for a thought-provoking panel discussion where top industry leaders will share how students, parents, and community organizations can better prepare future leaders for the workplace in a global economy, as the Museum celebrates 30 years of educating, motivating, and inspiring all ages in North Texas through STEM education. There will be some fun STEM-inspired giveaways, and you don’t want to miss this event.
Our distinguished panelists are:
- Aaron Maestas, Chief Engineer Advanced Concepts and Technology, Raytheon
- Barbara Lewis, NASA Space Station Communication/STEM Outreach Lead
- Melerick Mitchell, CEO, Drive Influence
- Buvana Sivakumar, Director, Data Analysis, Capital One Financial Services
- Moderator: Christiana Yerba, CEO, Vouch
The Museum’s Education Department has grown considerably over the years to become exemplary in STEM education in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area and throughout Texas, as illustrated as being chosen in 2018 for the prestigious Million Women Mentors® - Education Stand Up for STEM Award.
Keynote Address: Astronaut John E. Blaha, Col, USAF (Ret.) @ 1:00-1:45 p.m.
John Blaha spent four months as an engineer aboard the Soviet/Russian Space Station Mir, capping a remarkable aerospace career that includes 161 days in space on five separate missions. He is an Air Force combat veteran and test pilot with over 7,000 hours of flying time in 34 different aircraft. Selected as astronaut in 1980, he first flew as pilot on STS-29 (Discovery, March 1989) and STS-33 (Discovery, November 1989). He was Spacecraft Commander for STS-43 (Atlantis, August 1991) and STS-58 (Columbia, October-November 1993) – a mission described by NASA leadership as the most successful and efficient Spacelab flight ever flown.
Special Presentation: “The Day We Walked on the Moon,” Presented by the Smithsonian Channel @ 2:15-3:45
This special presentation marks the 50th anniversary of man’s first steps on the lunar surface and tells the story of this defining moment in our history.
Other Moon Day Highlights:
- Beginning at 11:00 a.m., choose from interesting and educational presentations from the Moon Academy Classes for youngsters or the Lunar University for college level and above.
- Build and launch model rockets! Students ages 8 and up build and launch model rockets with the Dallas Area Rocket Society. Sessions will be in the Museum Model Shop and space is limited.
- Make your own Moon craters, drive a Mars rover, analyze the performance of your paper airplane design, or enjoy numerous other activities and demonstrations from our amazing exhibitors.
- Lunar and Meteorite Samples from NASA: View part of NASA’s special collection of lunar soil returned from the Moon as well as meteorites that have fallen to Earth.
- Explore the Universe with OmniGlobe®: This EarthX exhibit is an incredible interactive opportunity to view the Moon, Earth, planets, and stars in many scenarios. See the weather patterns of hurricanes and tsunamis on Earth, cloud movements on Jupiter, the topography of Venus, or track aircraft flight patterns around the globe.
- Learn how amateur radio operators listen to artificial satellites; you may even be able to listen to an actual satellite in orbit as it passes over the Metroplex!
Sutterfield-Jones explained that visitors who might not feel technically proficient in space topics will still have a great time at Moon Day. “Space exploration is a continuing chapter in the human story, and it’s something everyone can be a part of during the Museum’s Moon Day celebration on July 20.”
For more information on Moon Day 2019, presented by the Frontiers of Flight Museum and the National Space Society of North Texas. Visit: Frontiers of Flight Museum Moon Day 2019
or call (214) 350-3600.
MORE ON THE FRONTIERS OF FLIGHT MUSEUM
The Frontiers of Flight Museum has over 35 space vehicles and aircraft from a replica of the Wright Flyer to the one-of-a-kind “Flying Pancake,” the Apollo 7 spacecraft, 18 galleries, and over 35,000 historical artifacts on display. The Living History program features the portrayal of prominent personalities in aviation history who present both on-site and in the community.
The Museum is conveniently located just north of downtown at 6911 Lemmon Avenue at the southeast side of Dallas Love Field Airport, north of Mockingbird Lane. Housed in a modern 100,000-square-foot facility, the Museum provides a focal point to explore the history and progress of aviation and spaceflight as the human race continues to pursue going higher, faster, and farther. Hours of operation: Monday – Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Admission: Adults $10; Seniors (65+) $8; Youths/Students (3-17) $7 and children under 3 are free. For more information, including closings for private events and major holidays, visit www.flightmuseum.com or call (214) 350-3600.