Space Foundation Congratulates JAXA and NASA on Successful GPM Mission Launch

The Space Foundation congratulates Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and NASA on the successful launch of the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Earth observation mission from pad 1 at the Tanegashima Space Center, Thursday, Feb. 27 (U.S. time), Tanegashima, Japan.

Launched upon a Japanese H-IIA rocket carrying the NASA- JAXA Global GPM Core Observatory, GPM, will help advance our understanding of Earth’s water and energy cycles, improve the forecasting of extreme events that cause natural disasters, and extend current capabilities of using satellite precipitation information to directly benefit society.

“The Space Foundation shares a close relationship with both JAXA and NASA, and supports international collaboration in space,” said Space Foundation Vice President – Education and Discovery Iain Probert. “And the role of Space Foundation Corporate Member Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. is an important one — its Global Precipitation Measurement-Microwave Imager (GMI) is an integral part of GPM, and will play an essential role in the Earth’s weather and environmental forecasting.”

The Space Foundation offered free admission to its Discovery Center during the launch so that school children and the public could watch a live feed of the launch. The viewing also included a free showing of the short NASA film Water Falls. This 9-minute film, created by the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) specifically for Science On a Sphere®, is centered around the GPM mission.

The Space Foundation is presenting GPM-related hands-on education lessons for school groups visiting the Discovery Center, and also remotely through Google Hangouts.

Water Falls is available for public viewing at the Discovery Center, during regular hours, included in the regular admission price.

About the Space Foundation Discovery Center
The Space Foundation Discovery Center is the region’s only space, science and technology attraction, and is located at 4425 Arrowswest Drive in Colorado Springs, just off of Garden of the Gods Road. The Discovery Center is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., and until 8:00 p.m. one Thursday evening every month.

Discovery Center daily admission fees are $9 for adults, $7 for seniors (age 65+), $7 for college students with I.D., $3 for children ages 4-17. Military fees are $4.50 for adults with I.D., and $1.50 for children ages 4-17. Children age three years and younger are admitted free. For information about group visits, and holiday and weather closures, call 719.576.8000.

Learn more about the Discovery Center by visiting www.spacefoundation.org/museum.