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On May 4 the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum celebrates Space Day, the fourth annual daylong salute to the achievements, benefits and opportunities in the exploration and use of space. Interactive, hands-on exhibits, spacesuits and demonstrations will illustrate this year's theme, "Living and Working in Space." All activities will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free.

The day begins with an opening ceremony at 10:00 a.m. in the Milestones of Flight gallery. Museum director Jack Dailey, and former astronauts John Glenn and Sally Ride will be on hand to help launch the day's activities, including Cyber Space Day. This engaging and lively three-hour (noon to 3 p.m.) Webcast from the museum will feature some of the outstanding individuals who have been involved in the space program as well as children from across the country who have created "stellar" solutions to Design Challenges of living and working in space. Special displays, hands-on activities and demonstrations will round out the day and will include the following:

Opening Ceremony - 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Milestones of Flight (Gallery 100) [See Museum Map]
The National Air and Space Museum will be the site of a national celebration that launches Space Day activities on May 4, beginning at 10:00a.m. The opening ceremonies will feature General John Dailey, Director of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, as well as Sen. John Glenn and Dr. Sally Ride, two former astronauts.

Cyber Space Day Webcast - Noon to 3 p.m.
Beyond the Limits (Gallery 213) [See Museum Map]
Hosted by Carole Simpson of ABC and Miles O'Brien of CNN, the Webcast will feature astronauts John Glenn and Sally Ride. Other guests will include Dr. Kathryn Clark, NASA's chief scientist of the International Space Station; Dr. Bernard Harris, the first African-American astronaut to walk in space; Phil West, the "gadget" man of NASA, responsible for tools and vehicles in space; The Rocket Boys, whose story was told in the film October Sky; and Andrew Chaikin, author of A Man on the Moon. Everyone is invited to watch the webcast live at the museum, or to log on using the Internet. Questions will be taken both from the audience at the museum and Webcast viewers, and answered by astronauts and other space heroes.

 

Educational Activities - 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

    Could You Work in Space?
    South Lobby (Gallery 108) [See Museum Map]
    Participants try their hand at making repairs in space. When spacesuit gloves are inflated in space, they become stiff, making complex hardware difficult to manipulate. Test skills in a simulated space mission working against the clock to complete the space repair.

    Suited for Space
    South Lobby (Gallery 108) [See Museum Map]
    Working in the airless environment of space poses many dangers. Liquids boil, gases expand, and communication is challenging. Learn how a spacesuit is designed to protect against this harsh environment in a 25-minute live demonstration.

    Design Challenges
    South Lobby (Gallery 108) [See Museum Map]
    Student teams from across the country who solved real problems of living and working on the International Space Station will describe their "stellar" ideas on Cyber Space Day, the Webcast, from noon until 3 p.m.

    Space Garden
    Where Next, Columbus? (Gallery 209) [See Museum Map]
    Learn how hydroponic gardens may feed astronauts. Horticulturists from the Smithsonian's Horticulture Services Division will demonstrate how plants grow in water -- one possible solution for feeding future space explorers.

    Butterflies in Space
    Where Next, Columbus? (Gallery 209) [See Museum Map]
    Even in outer space plants need pollinators. See the butterflies that flew in space as part of the S.T.A.R.S.TM program. Students from Albany, Georgia's Dougherty County School System High School/High Tech Program designed and carried out a successful space shuttle experiment that showed butterflies could complete their life cycle in microgravity.

    Life Cycles of Butterflies
    Investigate the life cycle of butterflies with experts from the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. See live butterflies and hold the larvae. Compare these Earth -bound insects to the ones that flew in space.

    Solar Observing - 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., weather permitting
    South Terrace (outside near the Independence Avenue entrance) [See Museum Map]
    The year 2000 falls on the peak of the 11-year solar cycle, the solar maximum. The number and size of sunspots visible on the Sun peaks with the cycle. See some spectacular sunspots through safe, telescopic solar observing at the museum.

Space Day is the culminating event of the year-round Embrace Space educational initiative, celebrating the extraordinary achievements, benefits and opportunities in the exploration and use of space. Space Day encourages people of all ages from around the globe to advance science, math and technology education, and to inspire future generations to continue the vision of our space pioneers.