After-school outreach programs, Space Exploration Science Celebrations, and free admission vouchers for this Saturday’s Artemis II mission highlights watch party are three ways the Da Vinci Science Center is honoring America’s return to the moon and connecting Lehigh Valley students and their families to space exploration agencies.
A $50,000 grant from NASA will fund the project, which will provide opportunities for students in the Allentown, Parkland and Whitehall-Coplay school districts, the center said.
The Allentown science center announced that “up to 120 students in Allentown and Parkland School Districts will receive afterschool outreach programs focused on Artemis Moon exploration” and “two middle schools (in Allentown and Whitehall-Coplay School Districts) will receive Space Exploration Science Celebrations.” Allentown and Parkland district officials did not have further information.
In addition, the science center says “hundreds of families from Parkland and Whitehall-Coplay School Districts will receive free admission vouchers for the Artemis II Celebration,” which will be held Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m.
Families who attend Saturday’s event will watch highlights from the Artemis II mission; attend a Q&A with Terry Hart, former space shuttle astronaut and current Lehigh University engineering professor; hear from representatives of two local companies that work with NASA; meet Lehigh University and Cedar Crest College students and professors who research space; learn about telescopes under the guidance of the Lehigh Valley Amateur Astronomical Society; and see a demonstration of NASA’s vacuum distillation process that turns urine into drinkable water for International Space Station astronauts.
Artemis II celebration events are included with the purchase of a general admission ticket (or membership) to the Da Vinci Science Center, and more information about Saturday’s event can be found on their website.