March 2003 A Weekend of Out-of-this-World Exciting NASA Events!

NASA's Starship 2040 landed at the Children's Museum for 4-day events w/Congressman Sherry Boehlert, Chairman of the House Science Committee; numerous NASA officials, including NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe; Marshall Space Flight Center Director Art Stephenson; NASA Office of Educ. Assoc. Admin. Dr. Adena Loston; Astronaut Leland Melvin; and Sean McCool, brother of Columbia Astronaut Captain Willy McCool. View pictures below. View itinerary. View Ceremony lineup. Read poem. Read essay. Read OD article. Read NASA's press release.

Starship 2040 landed at the Children's Museum!		Friday, the crowd lined up to tour it
Congressman Boehlert tours Starship 2040		Joined by excited children
Getting interviewed by an OD reporter
Adults of all ages enjoyed touring Starship
The onboard Starship 2040 bathroom, above; and the elevator to the other floors
Checking out the control panel		Time for a snack!
Starship's food storage		Starship's Life Support
		Starship's view of the heavens
		Exiting Starship & heading in the Museum
Students enjoyed the 2nd floor presentation by Col. John Dumolin of Marshall Space Flight Center, AL		Learning the role of rockets & boosters & propulsion
An exciting multimedia presentation. above: John & Francine between classes, right.
And on the 3rd floor, NASA educator Ron Ernst
School groups enjoyed trying on space suits		And learning how you sleep in space!
On the 4th floor, they interacted w/science exhibits		And viewed our Columbia shuttle & Lunar launcher
Watching the DVD on a space launch		Viewing Gemini rocket and reading about Plasma
Friday noon, Congressman Boehlert & MSFC Director Art Stephenson present to Utica Rotary		Congressman Boehlert, MSFC Director Stephenson, & Museum Director Brown at Rotary head table
Utica Rotary President Georgiana Roberts-Ide exchanging banners with NASA Rotarians		Back at the museum, MSFC Director Stephenson & Congressman Boehlert address the VIP/Media event
Astronaut Leland Melvin shares his thoughts		Business people enjoy interacting w/ the Director, Astronaut, and Congressman at VIP reception
Astronaut Leland Melvin shares his thoughts		Teenagers excitedly pose for a picture w/Astronaut
Young Mr. Kilian meets an Astronaut!		John Stephenson, Museum Bd of Dir's Vice-Chair, wife, & Director Brown share a smile with Astronaut

Saturday, the crowd poured onto the 4th floor for the Columbia Ceremony		Children get ready for their participation
Policemen and firemen and cadets get set		Utica Fire Marshall Dan Trevisani
Congressman Boehlert arrives w/Admin. O'Keefe		NASA Admin. Sean O'Keefe pins Director Brown
Six year old Trevor Caron leads the pledge to the flag held by Utica Police & Fire Dept. honor guards
Nine year old Rachel Caron reads her original powen on "Astronauts & Space"		Ten year old Nick Rotundo shares his essay on "What Space Science Means to Me"
On Co Executive Ralph Eannace addresses crowd		Utica City Mayor Tim Julian addresses crowd
NASA's Col. John Dumolin, from Marshall Space Flight Center, addresses the crowd		Col. Dumolin presents the Chairman with a Starship model, which is then given to the Museum!
Jim Dunn, director of NASA's NE Regional Technology Center presents portrait to Museum		NASA's Assoc. Admin. of Education, Dr. Adena Williams Loston, shares her joy in the museum
Sean McCool, brother of Columbia Astronaut Willy McCool, tells Director his brother would be proud		Astonaut Leland Melvin enthralls the crowd with his inspirational feelings on being an astronaut
Congressman Boehlert shares his pride in the Children's Museum's new 4th floor growth		NASA Admin. Sean O'Keefe praises Director Brown for her heart & work on the 4th floor renovation
Director Brwon presents Admin.O'Keefe with the Book of Condolences signed by Museum visitors		Dorian Mohar closes out the ceremony with a touching trumpet rendition of "God Bless America."
Sean McCool & Director delighted with ceremony		Participants enjoyed reception in museum's cafe
We opened for a few hours on Sunday and saw another big crowd arrive.		Lining up for Starship and viewing the exhibits explaining "The Highway to Space"
Monday the museum was filled once again with area 4th & 5th grade students touring Starship,		interacting w/exhibits, & taking part in NASA presentations.
Monday afternoon a tired but happy Director Brown watches out the window as Starship 2040 packs up & says her goodbyes		Gerry Kimball of Boehing Rocketdyne
The crew finishes the breakdown		and gets ready for their next "launch"

We'll continue to reach for the stars at the Children's Museum, thanks to Congressman Boehlert & NASA

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