PRESIDENTS DAY WEEKEND FEB. 18-20

Happy Presidents Day Weekend! At Challenger, we are celebrating the 50^th Anniversary of America’s First Orbital Flight around Earth. John Glenn’s historic flight aboard Friendship 7 took place February 20, 1962. The Center is a signature location for the Sci-Tech Festival, so we will be offering many fun activities and special guests during this exciting 3-day weekend! 

Saturday February 18, 2012, meteorite hunter, science writer, author, photographer, and Meteorite Men Co-Host Geoffrey Notkin will make a guest appearance at Challenger Space Center . On Sunday, February 19, Challenger will feature our M.A.R.S. Program (Meet A Real Scientist). And, on Monday, February 20, President’s Day & the 50^th Anniversary of America’s First Orbital Flight, the Center will host former Skylab Astronaut Dr. Ed Gibson, a man who has orbited the earth more than 1,000 times!

Click here to download the Presidents Day Events At A Glance Flyer 

Corporate Support & Sponsorships

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18

GEOFFREY NOTKIN, C0-HOST OF THE SCIENCE CHANNEL’S HIT SHOW, METEORITE MEN

Professional meteorite hunter, science writer, author, photographer, and Meteorite Men Co-Host Geoffrey Notkin will make a guest appearance at Challenger Space Center, Saturday February 18, 2012.

He will host a special Educators Workshop on meteorites, conduct a book signing for educators and the general public, and make a very special Hunting Meteorites presentation at a Friends of Challenger Dinner. Please join us for a fun day and evening of activities all about meteorites from one of the best meteorite hunters in the world! Here are options for enjoying the day and evening events:

ULTIMATE SPACE PACKAGE! DAY & EVENING PASS, FEB. 18

  Includes Event Pass, Challenger Space Center Arizona Lanyard, NASA 2012 International Space Station Calendar, and Exclusive Sunset Reception on Challenger’s Rooftop Observation Deck 

• General Admission to the Center, Guided Tours and Exhibits, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Regular Price $8
• STARLab Planetarium Show, 11:30 a.m. (40 minutes), Regular Price $4
• Simulated Mission to Outer Space (suitable for children in 3rd grade and above,) 1:00 p.m. (2-hours), Regular Price $22.50
• Geoff Notkin Book Signing, Includes a copy of Meteorite Hunting: How To Find Treasure From Space, 3:00 p.m. (1 hour), Regular Price in Galaxy Gift Shop $25
• Exclusive Sunset Reception, relax and enjoy a beautiful Arizona sunset on Challenger’s rooftop observation deck. Beverages and light snacks will be served. Enjoy telescope viewing after sunset as we prepare for the evening festivities, 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.
• Reception, Dinner and Meteorite Hunting Presentation by Geoffrey Notkin, co-host of the Science Channel’s hit show Meteorite Men, 6:00 – 9:30 p.m., Regular Price $79 

Purchase Tickets

The Member Price of $99 is an incredible value because it is the 3-day Weekend price for ALL of the President’s Day Weekend Activities, including a presentation by former Skylab-4 astronaut Ed Gibson on Feb. 20.

METEORITE HUNTING PRESENTATION & DINNER
A SPECIAL FRIENDS OF CHALLENGER EVENING, FEB. 18
Reception, Dinner and Meteorite Hunting Presentation by Geoffrey Notkin, co-host of the Science Channel’s Emmy-Award winning show Meteorite Men.
February 18, 6:00 – 9:30 p.m.
Donate Silent Auction Item

Geoffrey Notkin is a professional meteorite hunter, science writer, author, and photographer. He has scoured the earth, finding meteorites and his interest in these space rocks, paleontology and natural history has taken him from the southern end of South America, to the desolate northern tip of Siberia, and to over forty other countries. He has written a comprehensive illustrated guide to recovering, identifying and understanding meteorites, Meteorite Hunting: How To Find Treasure From Space. As a columnist for Geology.com and TusconCitizen.com, his articles and photographs have also appeared in Astronomy magazine, Sky & Telescope, Wired magazine, The Explorer’s Journal, Meteorite magazine, Rock & Gem, Geotimes, Lapidary Journal, Reader’s Digest, New York Press, The Village Voice, and many other international publications. He is the owner of Aerolite Meteorites, LLC, with a mission to make top quality, affordable meteorites available to collectors and institutions.

Price: 

• Reception, Dinner & Program: $79 per person, Table of 8, $475
• Reception, Dinner , Program & Meteorite Hunting: How To Find Treasure From Space Book: $89 per person, Table of 8 with 8 Books: $635

Purchase Tickets    
Thank you to our sponsors!  

METEORITE MAN DAY PASS FEB. 18

• General Admission to the Center, Guided Tours and Exhibits, including “The Mule” meteorite-toting truck used on the show, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Regular Price $8
• STARLab Planetarium Show, 11:30 a.m. (40 minutes), Regular Price $4
• Simulated Mission to Outer Space (suitable for children in 3rd grade and above,) 1:00 p.m. (2-hours), Regular Price $22.50
• Geoffrey Notkin Book Signing, Includes a copy of Meteorite Hunting: How To Find Treasure From Space, 3:00 p.m. (1 hour), Regular Price in Galaxy Gift Shop $25 

Purchase Tickets

“METEORITES” WORKSHOP FOR EDUCATORS 
WITH GEOFF NOTKIN, FEB. 18

1:00 – 2:30 p.m.

Mr. Notkin will host a special Educators Workshop on Meteorites at Challenger Space Center. The cost for Educators is $8 pp (Adult General Admission) and we highly recommend advance registration and ticket purchase for this session. Mr. Notkin will then host a book signing for his comprehensive illustrated guide to recovering, identifying and understanding meteorites – Meteorite Hunting: How To Find Treasure From Space at 2:30 p.m. for Educators and the general public. Your workshop ticket includes General Admission to the Center for the day. You may purchase your ticket and a copy of the book in advance for $28. A portion of all book sale proceeds benefit Challenger education programs. The STARLab Planetarium will also be at Challenger on Feb. 18 and Educators may purchase a Planetarium Ticket for the 11:30 Planetarium Show for $4. Educators who wish to purchase the Ultimate Space Package – Day & Evening Pass (above) may substitute the Meteorites Workshop for the Mission to Outer Space, and will receive a pass for a future simulated mission. The first Saturday of each month Challenger offers a complimentary simulated mission to outer space and mission training in the simulator for Educators (pre-registration required).

Price:

Educators Only Workshop – $8, Educator Member FREE

Package Price:

Workshop + Book: $28,  Educator Member $20

Workshop + Book + STARLab Planetarium Show at 11:30 a.m.: $32, Educator Member $23

Purchase Tickets

GENERAL ADMISSION

Open 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Experience our exhibits and guided tour, which includes the Smithsonian Institution’s “An Astronaut’s Life: Articles Flown In Space.”

You may also attend Mr. Notkin’s book signing at 2:30 p.m. (the book is available in the Galaxy Gift Shop for $25 with proceeds going to support education programs at Challenger) and see “The Mule,” the meteorite-toting truck used on the show Meteorite Men, which will be on exhibit from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. General admission is paid at the door.  However, we do suggest purchasing a fun package in advance to reserve your space at some of the higher-demand activities during the day, such as Planetarium Shows and Simulated Missions to Outer Space.

General Admission Price : $8 Adults, $7 Seniors/Military, $5 Students, FREE for 3 & Under and Members.

MEMBERS

Another cost-effective way to enjoy general admission activities at Challenger for most of our Presidents Day Weekend Activities, including an appearance by former astronaut Ed Gibson on Feb. 20, is to purchase a Membership, which gains participants free general admission all year long.

General Admission activities for members, as always, are FREE this weekend! Members may purchase additional activities such as Planetarium Shows, Missions to Outer Space, and the Ultimate Space Package Day & Evening Pass at a discounted rate of up to 25%.

Membership Price: Individual ($45), Couple ($60), Family ($75). MORE

PLANETARIUM PACKAGE FEB 18.

Planetarium Package Show Time: 12:30 p.m.

Attend a fascinating 40-minute presentation on the night sky and folklore behind our stars, planets and universe with professional astronomer Tony La Conte. You may purchase tickets the day of the event. However, seating inside the STARLab Planetarium is limited.  Because we anticipate a larger audience on February 18, we recommend purchasing a ticket package in advance. This ticket package gains you general admission to the Center for the day and one Planetarium Show.

Package Price: $4 + General Admission: Adults $12, Senior $11, Military $11, Student $9

Meteorite Hunting: How To Find Treasure From Space. Book $20 (Reg. $25)

Purchase Tickets

SIMULATED SPACE MISSION PACKAGE FEB. 18

Mission Times: 10:30 A.M. OR 1:00 P.M.

If you would like to purchase a Simulated Space Mission, which flies at 10:30 a.m. or 1:00 p.m., please click on “Simulated Missions To Space” on the menu above and select February 18, 2012. Your boarding pass to a simulated space mission also includes general admission to the Center to experience our exhibits and guided tour. You may also attend Mr. Notkin’s book signing at 2:30 p.m. and see “The Mule,” the meteorite-toting truck used on the show Meteorite Men which will be on exhibit from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Center. (does not include Planetarium ticket)

Package Price (includes general admission):  $22.50 Adult, $19.50 Student/Senior 
MORE

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19

An Astronaut’s Life: Articles Flown In Space 
Open 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

A Smithsonian Institution Exhibit which celebrates 50 years of manned space exploration with dozens of items flown in space from Mercury to the Space Shuttle program. MORE

11:30 am & 1:30 pm
M.A.R.S. Project (Meet A Real Scientist) Two demonstrations will be given by scientists working right here in the Valley. They will showcase exciting projects that are having a real impact on the world around us. Hands-on activities for children and families are included.

Today’s guest presenter will be John Meschberger, a Propulsion Engineer with Orbital Sciences. He will assemble and static-fire a rocket motor as one aspect of his fascinating demonstration.

Augmented Reality Space Experience Day- Sunday Feb. 19, 2012

Popar is proud to announce a Virtual and Augmented Reality Space Experience Day at Challenger Space Center Arizona.  Experience first-hand the NEW Planets 3D Augmented Reality Book including hands-on activities where visitors will learn to virtually build the Cassini space probe, make a lunar eclipse occur and launch a rocket right out of your hand!  You may even have a chance to try out an astronaut helmet or walk home with some special prizes from Popar Toys.

3….2…..1….launch!   www.PoparToys.com 

Space Center Tours 

Six 45-minute guided tours are given hourly starting at 10:15, with the last tour starting at 3:15. Guests on the tour will hold a real meteorite and see actual space rocks that Geoff Notkin and his co-host Steve Arnold collected from around the world on the show Meteorite Men. Mr. Notkin’s company Aerolite Meteorites donated many special meteorites to Challenger Space Center Arizona’s museum in April 2011. 

1:00 p.m. – Mission to Outer Space, Feb. 19
Challenger Space Center hosts simulated space missions every Sunday at 1:00 pm. The two-hour mission is conducted in Challenger’s Mission Control and Space Craft and lasts approximately 2-hours. The cost of a space mission boarding pass also includes general admission to the museum. Advance reservations are required, as a minimum of 16 people is necessary to fly a mission. MORE

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20 – Presidents Day

& 50th Anniversary of America’s First Orbital Flight

PRESENTATION BY FORMER ASTRONAUT ED GIBSON

Dr. Edward Gibson served as the science-pilot of Skylab 4 (third and final manned visit to the Skylab space station) that spent more than 84 days in space. First selected as a scientist-astronaut by NASA in 1965, Dr. Gibson completed flight training at Williams Air Force Base, AZ. Skylab 4 was the longest manned flight in history of manned space exploration to date. Dr. Gibson was accompanied on the record-setting 34.5 million mile flight by Gerald P. Carr (commander) and William R. Pogue (pilot). They successfully completed 56 experiments, 26 science demonstrations, 15 subsystem detailed objectives, and 13 student investigations during their 1,214 revolutions of the earth. Dr. Gibson was the crewman primarily responsible for the 338 hours of Apollo Telescope Mount operation, which made extensive observations of solar processes. He logged 15 hours and 17 minutes in three spacewalks outside the orbital workshop. Dr. Gibson retired from NASA in 1974 to do research on Skylab solar physics data. His company, Gibson International Corp., provides consulting services on program management, market development and space infrastructure design and operations.

Dr. Gibson Presentation – 10:30 am to Noon

Dr. Gibson Autographs – Noon to 1:30 pm

Price: General Admission, Members FREE

Smithsonian Exhibition sample items: Scale Model of Gemini 8 Space Capsule, Astronaut Survival Kit, and a heat shield tile from Space Shuttle Orbiter Columbia.

An Astronaut’s Life: Articles Flown In Space 

A Smithsonian Institution Exhibit that celebrates 50 years of manned space exploration. See clothing worn on Skylab, astronaut food, heat tiles, and 23 items that flew in space on various missions. Articles represent every era, from Mercury to the Space Shuttle Program. In addition, see items on loan from astronaut William G. Gregory, Pilot of Space Shuttle Endeavour STS-67. Price: General Admission, Members FREE

  MORE

Guests on the 45-minute guided tour will hold a real meteorite and see actual space rocks that Geoff Notkin and his co-host Steve Arnold collected from around the world on the show Meteorite Men. Mr. Notkin’s company Aerolite Meteorites donated many special meteorites to Challenger Space Center Arizona’s museum in April 2011.  Price: General Admission, Members FREE