HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - The U.S. Space & Rocket Center’s annual Space Camp SummerFest event takes place today through Saturday, July 15, with three jam-packed days celebrating the 35th anniversary of Space Camp. SummerFest includes several media opportunities:
Today, July 13
4 p.m. – The Rocket Center will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its newest addition to Shuttle Park, Shuttle Training Aircraft NASA 945, one of four such vehicles developed to train shuttle pilot how to land the orbiter. Retired astronaut, Capt. Robert “Hoot” Gibson, a five-time astronaut who trained on NASA 945, will speak.
4:30 to 7:30 p.m. – The Rocket Center’s weekly Biergarten takes place, with a portion of the proceeds going to support the Space Camp Alumni Advancement Board’s effort to raise money for Space Camp scholarships.
5:30 p.m. – Several members of the Space Camp Hall of Fame will hold a Pass the Torch panel discussion about their careers and how Space Camp influenced them.
Friday, July 14
1 p.m. – A-12 Oxcart Showcase takes place featuring a talk by Lt. Col. (Ret.) Nick Van Valkenburgh, Rocket Center Curator Ed Stewart. Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Ed Yeilding, who co-piloted the SR-71 Blackbird on its final, record-breaking flight, will attend.
6 p.m. – Space Camp Hall of Fame dinner and ceremony begins with a cocktail hour and silent auction.
7 p.m. The Space Camp Hall of Fame dinner and ceremony begins with the induction of the 2017 Hall of Fame Class: NASA astronaut Dr. Serena Auñón-Chancellor; Dr. Jennifer Heldmann, a NASA research scientist; U.S. Marine Maj. John Hecker; and Dr. Michelle K. Christensen, a propulsion engineer at Blue Origin.
Former NASA Administrator, Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Charlie Bolden, is the key note speaker. A table is available at the dinner for media wishing to cover the event.
Saturday, July 15
7 p.m. – The Concert in Shuttle Park featuring Party of the Year, a party band from the producers of The Black Jacket Symphony, takes place under Pathfinder.
Tickets for the weekend activities are still available at rocketcenter.com/summerfest. Proceeds from to support the U.S. Space & Rocket Center Education Foundation’s Space Camp scholarship fund.
Media contact: Pat Ammons, pat.ammons@spacecamp.com; 256-721-5429
About U.S. Space & Rocket Center
The U.S. Space & Rocket Center, a Smithsonian Affiliate, is home to Space Camp® and Aviation Challenge®, the Apollo 16 capsule, the National Historic Landmark Saturn V rocket and world-class traveling exhibits. USSRC is the Official Visitor Center for NASA Marshall Space Flight Center and a showcase for national defense technologies developed at the U.S. Army’s Redstone Arsenal.
To learn more about the exciting programs and activities at the USSRC, go to www.rocketcenter.com.
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