Summer of Discovery July Highlights at the Space Foundation Discovery Center

Guest speakers drew the biggest crowds to the Space Foundation Discovery Center in Colorado Springs during July.

Space Foundation CEO Elliot Pulham started off the month's presentations on July 2, sharing his insights regarding the future of space exploration in his talk "America's Changing Role in Space."

Special guests at the Discovery Center on July 5 included Super Power Music Group performing for the grand opening of "Space Shuttle: Conquering Low Earth Orbit," an exhibit on loan from NASA, and the presentation "The History and Importance of Air Force Space Command," by Gen. Howell Estes, III and Gen. Lance Lord.

Other presentations and special guests during the July Summer of Discovery events included:

• Local TV meteorologists Matt Mesiter (pictured) and Rachael Plath using the Discovery Center's Science On a Sphere® to show weather patterns
• A guest lecture by former NASA engineer Marlowe Cassetti
• Presentations by former NASA astronaut Dr. Kathryn C. Thornton
• A panel of eight women from the 50th Space Wing, Schriever AFB, Colo., discussing their work
• Kathryn G. Tobey, vice president, military support programs, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, speaking on "Why Space?"

Coming up in August
See a new interactive exhibit at the Discovery Center, on loan from Colorado company DigitalGlobe, displaying satellite images of Earth.

The Summer of Discovery concludes with two final weeks:

• "Colorado Days" July 30-Aug. 3, in honor of Colorado statehood, Aug. 1, 1876
• "A Taste of Space Technology" Aug. 6-10, recognizing how technology developed for use in space continues to improve our lives on Earth

About the Space Foundation Discovery Center
The Space Foundation Discovery Center is the region's only space, science and technology attraction, and is open to the public from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays. The Discovery Center is located at 4425 Arrowswest Dr., Colorado Springs, Colo., off of Garden of the Gods Rd., west of Centennial Blvd.

Daily admission is $9 for adults, $7 for seniors (age 65+), $7 for college students with I.D., $3 for children ages 4-17. Children age three years and younger are admitted free. Admission is free with military I.D., to those impacted by Colorado wildfires and to first responders.

The Space Foundation Discovery Center is a collection point for Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado. The public may bring food donations to the Space Foundation Discovery Center between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Mondays through Saturdays. Anyone bringing a food donation will receive a $2 off admission coupon to the Discovery Center.

Find $1 off admission coupons online at www.spacefoundation.org/summer-fun and at local Wendy's this summer. Summer of Discovery co-sponsors are 501st Legion, Drive SunShine Institute, ScienSonic and Wendy's. ATK and Snappy Print are printing co-sponsors.

This article is part of Space Watch: August 2013 (Volume: 12, Issue: 8).