WHAT: Space Day 2009

WHEN: Saturday, May 2; 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

WHERE: Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum; Seventh Street and Independence Avenue S.W.

Space Day is an educational initiative held annually on the first Friday of May. This year’s theme is “Celebrating Human Space Flight: Past, Present and Future.” Space Day was established in 1997 by Lockheed Martin.

10:45 a.m. and 12:45 p.m.: Panel discussion with former astronauts Dan Barry, Roger Crouch and Capt. Kenneth Reightler Jr.

11:23 or 11:48 a.m. (barring technical difficulties): Live talk with an astronaut on the International Space Station, courtesy of Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS).

11:45 a.m. and 1:45 p.m.: Multimedia presentation by the astronauts of STS-119, the March 2009 Space Shuttle Discovery crew. STS-119 crew members: Cmdr. Lee Archambault, Pilot Tony Antonelli and Mission Specialists Joseph Acaba, Richard Arnold, Steve Swanson and John Phillips will talk about their experiences on the International Space Station.

12:45 p.m. and 2:45 p.m.: Multimedia presentation by Richard Paul with interviews and videos of astronauts playing music in space.

Throughout the day:
FIRST Robotics: Local robotics teams’ demonstrations of their expertise in building and controlling robots for competition.
The New Lunar Rover: W. Brent Garry, museum geologist, talks about his experiences as a test driver of the next generation of lunar rovers.
Orion Crew Vehicle: A sneak peek at the much-anticipated successor to the space shuttle, the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle.
Northern Virginia Association of Rocketry: Home-built rockets.
Lunar Surface and Rock: Priscilla Strain, museum scientist, talks about the Moon’s surface.
Book Signing: Brian Floca, author of “Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11,” a story of adventure and discovery for ages 4-7.
Interested media must RSVP to LaraI@si.edu or MullenB@si.edu.