Meet Space Explorer Anousheh Ansari and Space Journalist Lynn Sherr at the Discovery Center

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 17, 2014) — The Space Foundation Discovery Center in Colorado Springs is featuring “Rocketry,” for its Summer of Discovery program July 22 – 26 and July 29 – Aug. 2.

Special activities during “Rocketry” include a Girls’ STEM Day on July 23, with free admission for the first 50 girls, thanks to a grant from The Joseph Henry Edmondson Foundation.

Also on July 23, the Discovery Center will host a free evening presentation and book signing with award-winning journalist Lynn Sherr, author of Sally Ride: America’s First Woman in Space.

Girls’ STEM Day

On July 23, the Space Foundation will host a Girls’ STEM Day, offering activities to spark girls’ interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

In addition to the rocketry themed-activities taking place at the Discovery Center, the first 50 girls will also receive a special booklet, Celebrating 50 years of Women in Space, and a poster featuring the women of space by NASA and Sally Ride Science. All girls who attend on July 23 will be able to capture themselves as an astronaut with a free “Astronaut Me” photo to take home as a souvenir. Activities include:

• Noon – 2:00 p.m. – Exclusive Girls’ STEM activity, “Mars Rover Mission” in our Mars Robotics Laboratory
• 3:00 p.m. – Talk and Q&A with journalist and author Lynn Sherr

Please pre-register to guarantee a place among the first 50 girls to receive free admission by emailing the attendee’s name to [email protected], and please include “Girls’ STEM Day” in the subject line.

Sally Ride Night, July 23, 6:00 p.m. – Free Admission

Veteran ABC News and 20/20 reporter Lynn Sherr will sign autographs for her newly released book Sally Ride: America’s First Woman in Space, now a New York Times Best Seller. This definitive biography examines both the public and private life of Dr. Sally Ride, including exclusive insights from Ride’s family and partner.

6:00 p.m. – Presentation and Q&A with Lynn Sherr

7:00 p.m. – Book signing, reception and tours in the Discovery Center

7:20 p.m. and 7:40 p.m. – Science On a Sphere® presentations 

Copies of Sherr’s book will be available for sale at the event, which is free and open to the public. Seating is limited; please RSVP to [email protected].

Friday, Aug. 1 – Meet Anousheh Ansari, the First Female Private Space Explorer

In 2006, Anousheh Ansari captured headlines as the first female private space explorer, the fourth private explorer to visit space and the first astronaut of Iranian descent. Ansari is co-founder and chairman of Prodea Systems, and was co-founder, CEO and chairman of Telecom Technologies, Inc.

Join us at 2:00 p.m. on Aug. 1 as we unveil Ansari’s portrait in the Discovery Center, followed by an autograph session with Ansari. This event is included in the price of admission.

Aug. 1 – A Tale of Three Planets SphereCast

Take part in a fascinating SphereCast presented by the Denver Museum of Nature and Science on our Discovery Center Science On a Sphere®, included in the price of admission.

Other “Rocketry” activities, July 22 – 26:

• Free surprise  for the first 25 paid children admitted daily (age 4-17, includes Discovery Passport holders)
• Rocketry-themed crafts
• Stomp Rockets (Saturday only)
• Science On a Sphere® presentations every 30 minutes

Please see our website for further details at www.spacefoundation.org/events/summer-discovery. Activities are subject to change.

Special thanks to our “Rocketry” Saturday sponsor TCF Bank.

About the Space Foundation Discovery Center

The Space Foundation Discovery Center is located off of Garden of the Gods Road at 4425 Arrowswest Drive, and is the region’s first and only space, science and technology attraction.

The Discovery Center is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., with occasional evening events. The Discovery Center is closed on Sunday and Monday and on holidays.

Discovery Center daily admission fees are $10 for adults, $7.50 for seniors (age 65+), $7.50 for college students with I.D., $4.50 for children ages 4-17. Children age three years and younger are admitted free. Military fees are $5.00 for adults with I.D., and $4.00 for military children ages 4-17 with I.D. Military includes active duty, guard, reserve or retiree with I.D.

For information, call 719.576.8000 or visit www.spacefoundation.org/museum.

About the Space Foundation
Founded in 1983, the Space Foundation is the foremost advocate for all sectors of space, and is a global, nonprofit leader in space awareness activities, educational programs and major industry events, including the annual Space Symposium, all in support of its mission “to advance space-related endeavors to inspire, enable and propel humanity.” Space Foundation world headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colo., features a public Discovery Center including the El Pomar Space Gallery and the Northrop Grumman Science Center featuring Science On a Sphere®, and is a member of the American Alliance of Museums. The Space Foundation has a field office in Houston, and from its Washington, D.C., office, conducts government affairs, publishes The Space Report: The Authoritative Guide to Global Space Activity and provides three indexes that track daily U.S. stock market performance of the space industry. Through its Space Certification^TM and Space Technology Hall of Fame® programs, the Space Foundation recognizes space-based technologies and innovations that have been adapted to improve life on Earth. Visit www.SpaceFoundation.org, follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest and Twitter, and read our e-newsletter Space Watch.

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