SpaceX To Participate In USA Science & Engineering Festival In Washington, DC

SpaceX said Thursday it is proud to participate in this year's USA Science & Engineering Festival on the National Mall in Washington, DC October 23-24, 2010.

SpaceX Dragon Artist's Concept

The goal of the USA Science & Engineering Festival is to recruit the next generation of scientists and engineers, in part by engaging K-12 students in how science is part of their daily lives. These growing fields need more Americans with the education and experience to work in them, and are vitally important to the future of our nation. "Our nation's talent is our most valuable resource," said Elon Musk, SpaceX CEO and CTO. "Inspiring the next generation to pursue careers in science and engineering is one of the best ways to ensure our country's long-term economic strength."

Hundreds of science and engineering companies, professional associations, colleges and universities, K-12 schools and other organizations are participating in two weeks of events at the festival. The grand finale of the USA Science & Engineering Festival is a two-day expo on the National Mall.

At the SpaceX expo booth, families will have the chance to see and touch an engineering model of SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft that NASA will use to haul cargo to and from the International Space Station after the Space Shuttle retires, and that will one day carry astronauts. Dragon is set to make its inaugural flight this year.

Expo attendees will also be able to see videos of SpaceX rockets and spacecraft being built and tested. To help those attending remember the out-of-this-world experience, SpaceX will be taking and handing out pictures in front of green screen images of the Dragon spacecraft as it docks with the International Space Station or the Falcon 9 rocket launching into space from Cape Canaveral.

The SpaceX booth will be on the Mall at booth number 333, on 4th Street just north of Jefferson, not far from the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum.

FMI: www.spacex.com