SCIENCE CENTER OPENS NEW SPACE-THEMED GALLERY
IN COMMEMORATION OF APOLLO 11 LUNAR LEGACY
New gallery and guest speaker combine
To create an out-of-this-world experience

July 29th, 2009

CLEVELAND (July 29, 2009) – On the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11’s landing on the moon, Great Lakes Science Center began opening its newest gallery, Return to the Moon. The gallery features NASA’s Constellation Program, whose major goal is to return astronauts to the moon by 2020.

Visitors can take their own spacewalk as they interact with 14 hands-on exhibits and: build their own spacecraft that can withstand the stresses of launch; operate a remote-controlled lunar rover model like astronauts may do on a lunar base and investigate a lunar map, exploring all the moon landings and places we may go next.

“With space exploration being such a local story with so much history for Clevelanders, Return to the Moon is the perfect fit for the Science Center,” said Linda Abraham-Silver, president and CEO of Great Lakes Science Center. “STEM technology is brought to the forefront in this gallery, with much of the technology being developed right here in Northeast Ohio, providing that personal connection for many of our visitors.”

Visitors to the Science Center will also get the opportunity to manipulate simulated lunar soil, as well as use KEVA® planks to build their own lunar bases and launch pads. A highlight of the gallery is the lunar landing simulator – guests will be able to try their hand at landing the lunar lander Altair, a ship that is part of NASA’s Constellation Program, or they can go “retro” and relive the 1960s by choosing the Apollo Lunar Module option.

In conjunction with the Return to the Moon gallery, on August 20 the Science Center will host Andrew Chaikin, an internationally renowned science journalist, author and speaker. He will discuss space exploration, the incredible experiences of the Apollo lunar astronauts and “passing the torch” to a new generation of lunar explorers. Chaikin will also take visitors on a guided tour of the moon using a brand new digital “virtual moon.”

An expert on space exploration, Chaikin’s books include the best-selling chronicle of the Apollo moon missions, A Man on the Moon – the main basis for Tom Hanks’ emmy-award winning HBO miniseries, From the Earth to the Moon. His most recent book, Voices from the Moon, was released earlier this year.

Those interested in attending the speech on August 20 should call (216) 621-2400, Monday – Friday between 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Reservations are required.

About the Great Lakes Science Center

The Great Lakes Science Center is one of the nation’s leading science and technology centers, featuring hundreds of hands-on exhibits, themed traveling exhibits, daily demonstrations, the awe-inspiring OMNIMAX® Theater and the Steamship William G. Mather. The Science Center is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with discounted parking available for guests in the attached 500-car garage. The Great Lakes Science Center is generously funded by the citizens of Cuyahoga County through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture. For more information, contact the Science Center at (216) 694-2000 or visit www.GreatScience.com.

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