This month, our nation celebrates a scientific achievement by which nearly every other technological advancement is measured: July 20 is the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission, which put a man on the moon for the first time. It was, indeed, a giant leap that helped pave the way for so many scientific discoveries and helped foster a fascination with space that has become part of our cultural fabric.
A milestone of this stature deserves an out-of-this-world celebration. That’s why we’ve teamed up with WUCF TV and the Orange County Regional History Center to bring Orlando a moon-landing event that features a roundup of activities that give everyone a chance to take a deep dive into the world of space exploration. All day long, the Orlando Public Library and the History Center will host family-friendly fun, as well as fascinating speakers and experiences.
We’ll start the day off at 10 a.m. with a character meet-and-greet. Jet Propulsion from the PBS KIDS animated series Ready Jet Go! will be on site at the library, followed by an appearance at the History Center at noon. Kids can see their favorite space-themed character come to life, then participate in crafts and activities in the children’s library. In the Melrose Center, virtual reality experiences offer everyone a chance to imagine what it was like to witness this historic event, and on the library’s fourth floor, we’ll use paper airplanes to illustrate some basic laws of physics.
At 11 a.m., WMFE News 90.7 space reporter Brendan Byrne will talk about the Kennedy Space Center’s role in making the Apollo mission a reality, and at Noon, MIT researcher Natalia Guerrero will talk about how NASA’s TESS mission helps scientists find new planets.
Our partners at the History Center, right across the street from the Orlando Public Library, are waiving admission for this event, and they’ll host an astronaut-training obstacle course, moon-crater mini golf and other fun activities. Be sure to visit both of our award-winning institutions that day – the fun begins at 10 a.m. and carries on into the afternoon. Hope to see you there!
View the full schedule of One Giant Leap: A 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Moon Landing events.
