Program Teaches The Public About Living In Space

The public is invited to learn more about living in space, directly from NASA experts and space-exploring astronauts, in a series of special events coming to Arizona. The agency's "Destination Station" activities in the Phoenix and Tucson areas start Thursday, Feb. 21.

Destination Station is an outreach effort by NASA to share, educate and inspire the public about the International Space Station. The space station is a multinational research facility and the largest spacecraft ever built. It is an official U.S. National Laboratory where astronauts and scientists from around the world conduct experiments in fundamental life, physical, Earth and space science, as well as human health, technologies for space exploration and the improvement of life on Earth.

Destination Station kicked off in Arizona in December with a unique exhibit at the Arizona Museum of Natural History. The exhibit remains open through March, but participants can experience more of the excitement of space exploration as part of the following public events (all times Mountain):

• Thursday, Feb. 21, 5-10 p.m.: Geek's Night Out, Tempe City Hall
• Friday, Feb. 22, 6-9 p.m.: Evening with the Crew, Arizona Challenger Center
• Saturday, Feb. 23, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Honeywell & Fiesta Bowl Aerospace Challenge, Arizona Challenger Center
• Sunday, Feb. 24, 1-4 p.m.: Destination Station Day, Arizona Museum of Natural History
• Thursday, Feb. 28, 7-9 p.m.: Planetarium Show, Mesa Community College
• Friday, March 1, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Her World Event, DeVry University

Additionally, NASA will be hosting a symposium for researchers called "International Space Station: Opportunities for Innovations in Space" on Feb. 26 at Arizona State University SkySong.

(ISS file image provided by NASA)

FMI: www.ds-symposium.com