Summer of Discovery Launches Space Science and Education Attraction

The public is invited to visit the new Space Foundation Discovery Center this summer for 10 weeks of educational space activities appropriate for all ages. Each week will focus on a specific theme, culminating with a full day of special activities each Saturday, included in the price of the Saturday admission.

The Space Foundation Discovery Center, located off Garden of the Gods Road at 4425 Arrowswest Drive, is the region’s first and only space, science and technology attraction, and will be open to the public from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays, June 4 – Aug. 10. See details about exhibits and daily fees at www.spacefoundation.org/visit.

“The exhibits and activities we’re offering this summer will interest anyone who enjoys science and space exploration,” said Vice President – Education and Discovery Iain Probert. “Parents can share the excitement of discovery with their children, while seniors can relive the thrill of the early U.S. space missions.”

The theme for the first week, Tuesday, June 4 – Saturday, June 8, is “Oceans of the Universe,” examining the similarities between space and deep sea exploration. Among recent additions to the Space Foundation’s exhibits is the Scott Carpenter Station, designed by NASA and used for seafloor research. It was formally known as the Scott Carpenter Space Analog Station, because its primary mission was to demonstrate the ways in which the ocean environment could be used as an analog to the space environment.

“Oceans of the Universe” activities for Saturday, June 8, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

• Science On a Sphere® demonstrations –  featuring a unique spherical display that brings the Earth, Sun, Moon, planets and other celestial bodies to life
• Underwater robot activities with remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs) similar to the ones used to train astronauts
• Squid dissection activity “You’ve Got Guts.” See for yourself what’s inside these small ocean creatures!
• “Fossils of the Deep” – children will enjoy “digging” for fossils and shells
• Demonstrations – comparing SCUBA equipment with astronaut EMU suits extravehicular mobility unit)
• For young children, the June 8 activities will include crafts, balloon art, face painting and local personalities reading to them in the Small Fry Reading Corner

“Mars, Rovers and Robots” Saturday, June 15, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

• Free insect micro robots for the first 200 children beginning at 10:00 a.m.
• Cool Science® Magic Show – 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
• Colorado Springs Police Department Regional Explosives Unit robot demonstration, 1:00- 4:00 p.m.
• Remotec’s Andros F6A – a medium-sized robot platform that can perform a variety of tasks
• Applied research associates’ (ARA) Pointman – a small platform, surveillance and reconnaissance robot
• Our new Discovery Center “Touch of Mars” interactive display
• Interactive Science On a Sphere shows and Mars, Rovers and Robots short films from NASA
• Robot demonstrations
• Meet your favorite Star Wars characters
• Create your own ROBI robot and other free craft activities

Other June themes include “Astronauts!” June 18-22, and “Blue Planet – Green Living” June 25-29. Watch the Space Foundation website for updates.

Daily admission is $9 for adults, $7 for seniors (age 65+), $7 for college students with I.D., $3 for children ages 4 – 17. Admission is free with military I.D., to children age three years and younger and to holders of the Colorado Springs Together Card. Activities are subject to change.

Watch for $1 off admission coupons online here and at local Wendy’s this summer. 501st Legion, ScienSonic Laboratories and Wendy’s are “Summer of Discovery” co-sponsors, and ATK and Snappy Print are printing co-sponsors.

This article is part of Space Watch: June 2013 (Volume: 12, Issue: 6).