"NASA Exploration Experience" Exhibit Visits Burlington Friday
And Saturday
The "NASA Exploration Experience" will visit Burlington, VT on
Friday to propel visitors on a 3D journey across the solar system
-- and to demonstrate the countless rewards made possible back on
Earth by NASA's 50-plus years of science, discovery and technology
development.
The traveling exhibit, which uses 3D imagery and the latest
interactive video technology to immerse visitors in the experience,
will be at the Main Street Landing Performing Art Center as part of
the Vermont 3.0 Technology Jam. The exhibit -- air-conditioned and
wheelchair-accessible -- will be open from 1000 to 1700 EDT on
October 15 – 16.
As part of this educational experience, Jitendra Joshi, Chief
Technologist Advisor at NASA Headquarters, Washington, will speak
on "The Challenges of Living in Space" on Oct. 15 at 11000, 12000,
and 1300 EDT the Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center.
"The NASA Exploration Experience will send visitors out of this
world -- and will bring a piece of another world right to them, in
the form of a touchable moon rock," said Communications Manager
Rocky Lind of NASA Headquarters in Washington. "Since NASA was
founded, its exploration and research missions have put space to
work all over the world," he added. "In our homes, hospitals,
schools and cities, on our roads and in the skies, NASA
technologies dramatically improve the quality of our lives every
day."
In addition to highlighting many of these innovations, the
exhibit's immersive 3D presentation demonstrates the challenges --
physiological and technological -- involved in sending human
explorers on extended journeys to Earth orbit and beyond.
Visitors also will see how NASA and its government, industry and
academic partners around the world are developing robust science
missions to new worlds and new destinations, and building
next-generation launch vehicles to extend humanity's reach across
the solar system. This cinematic experience, narrated by Peter
Cullen -- the voice of "Optimus Prime" from the popular
"Transformers" movies and cartoons -- ponders the thirst for
understanding that drives human voyages of discovery, and offers
breathtaking glimpses into a busy future in space.
NASA staffers will be on hand to answer questions and discuss
how America's space exploration activities continue to refine
existing technologies and contribute new breakthroughs in areas
such as power generation, computer technology, communications,
networking and robotics, and as a special souvenir of their
experience, exhibit visitors can step into a NASA photo booth, and
within minutes walk away with a free photo of themselves in
astronaut gear and space helmet on the surface of the moon or
Mars.