Contact:

Ed Campion
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
(Phone: 301/286-8955)

July 13, 2004 - RELEASE: 04-35

NASA GODDARD VISITOR CENTER CELEBRATES 35TH ANNIVERSARY OF APOLLO 11 MOON LANDING

On July 20, 2004, as part of NASA Goddard Space Flight Center's "Space Chats" community presentation series, the visitor center at Goddard will have a variety of activities to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the first humans to land on the lunar surface during the Apollo 11 mission.

Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin landed the Lunar Module "Eagle" in the Sea of Tranquility on the moon at 4:18 p.m. EDT on July 20, 1969 while fellow Apollo 11 crew member Michael Collins orbited the moon in the Command Module "Columbia." About six and a half hours later, at 10:56 p.m. EDT, Neil Armstrong became the first human to set foot on the lunar surface.

As part of the celebration activiteis, from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., there will be a large screen television projection of historic video from the Apollo 11 mission. Visitors also will be able to view selected lunar samples from 12 noon to 6 p.m. Throughout the day, visitors also can enjoy a variety of space exhibits currently on display at the visitor center.

Beginning at 7 p.m., Dr. Paul D. Lowman, a geophysicist at NASA Goddard, will do a presentation on the history and future of lunar explorations. After sunset, the Goddard Astronomy Club will have telescopes set up outside for lunar and star gazing. All activities at the visitor center are scheduled to conclude around 10 p.m.

Admission to the visitor center is free. From the Baltimore-Washington Parkway (Route 295) take Greenbelt Road exit (Route 193). Go east on 193 for approximately 2 miles. You will pass the main GSFC gate on the left at the first traffic light after Cipriano Road. Continue straight another 3/4 mile on Greenbelt Road to the next traffic light and turn left onto Soil Conservation Road. Then take the first left on Explorer Road, and follow signs to Visitor Center.

For additional information about this event or other GSFC Visitor Center activities, please contact Karen Miller at (301) 286-9041.