ROCHESTER, NY—Rochester Museum & Science Center (RMSC) will celebrate the 50th anniversary of NASA’s Apollo 11 Moon mission with Lunar Liftoff!: A Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Man’s Mission to the Moon at the Strasenburgh Planetarium and the Science Museum. Suitable for all ages, Lunar Liftoff! is a chance for RMSC visitors to immerse themselves in what is widely regarded to be the greatest leap forward in American ingenuity and exploration.
At the Strasenburgh Planetarium
Board the Apollo 11 lunar module for a re-creation of the Moon landing at the new Planetarium show, Eagle Has Landed. Using the latest NASA data, we’ll visit the Sea of Tranquility, spectacular landing sites from various Apollo missions, and sites that were selected but never visited. For the climax of the show, we will put you inside the Apollo 11 Lunar Module—Eagle—for an immersive re-creation of the heart-pumping 13 minutes of powered descent to the Moon. Looking out the windows, you’ll see what the astronauts saw; listen to a synchronized recording of the tense conversations between the astronauts and Mission Control; and hear Flight Director Gene Kranz and his team of young controllers monitor Eagle’s dwindling fuel supply and handle last-minute alarms from the guidance computer.
Eagle Has Landed runs at the Strasenburgh Planetarium through August 30, 2019. Admission: $10adults; $9 ages 3–18, seniors, and college students; RMSC members receive a $4 discount. For tickets visit RMSC.org or call 585.697.1942.
At the Science Museum
Lunar Liftoff!: A Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Man’s Mission to the Moon, runs 11am–3pm on Tuesday, July 16–Saturday, July 20, 2019, the anniversary dates of the Moon launch and landing. Explore a full-scale lunar module and imagine your own journey at daily rocket launches and demos—water rockets, pneumatic rockets, methanol rockets, and more. Build a mini-module, watch video of the launch and landing in a replica 1969 living room, discover 50 ways to celebrate the Moon mission, and more—there’s something new every day!
DAILY ACTIVITIES:
- Rocket Launches: Gather on the RMSC Café patio daily to watch and/or take part in our daily rocket launches. We’ve got all the bases covered with everything from water and stomp rockets to Alka Seltzer and pneumatic rockets.
- Build a lunar module: Get creative and make a marshmallow and toothpick lunar module.
- Make a space helmet: Do you want to be a spaceman? Create your own astronaut helmet and soar into space.
- Crater exploration: A hands-on experiment showing how craters form and what we can learn about the history of the moon from them.
- Hide & Seek Moon: A close-up of how scientists study objects on the moon that will show us how cultures around the world have viewed the Moon.
- Rocket Reactions: Learn how materials interact and behave with this explosive activity.
- Take a virtual trip: Explore the surface of Mars and try your hand at driving a Mars rover with our Oculus Go VR headset in the Science on a Sphere (Why Mars when we’re celebrating the Moon? NASA’s next moon mission will be a jumping off-point to head to Mars. The Moon provides an opportunity to demonstrate new technologies that could help build self-sustaining outposts off Earth.)
- Astronaut mascot sighting: Meet our astronaut mascot daily between 1:30–3:30pm (11am–3pm on Saturday) and snap a photo! Tag #rmscexploremore for a chance to win prizes.
- 1960’s Living Room: Lounge in a 60’s style living room and relive (or live for the first time) the Apollo Moon landing with live footage on our retro TV.
- Backyard Lunar Lander: The Eagle has landed…at the RMSC! Come see a half-scale version of the Lunar Lander created by Rochesterian Barry Nobles (Tuesday and Saturday only).
ADDITIONAL SATURDAY ACTIVITIES:
- Much Ado about Nothing: The Wonders of Vacuum Science and Technology: Experience the power of air and learn about the impact vacuum science had on NASA missions with a variety of vacuum-powered activities with the Vacuum Science and Technology Society.
- MARS Rocket Club: Get up close and personal with amazing rockets built by hobbyists.
- Astronomy Section: Rochester Academy of Sciences: What can I see in the night sky this summer? Where is the best local spot to gaze at the stars? How do you make a telescope? Discover this and all things deep space from local experts in the astronomy field.
- Rochester Lego User Group: The Rochester Lego User Group will be building and showcasing a one of a kind out of this world display customized for the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Lunar Landing.
- Backyard Lunar Lander: The Eagle has landed…at the RMSC! Come see a half-scale version of the Lunar Lander created by Rochesterian Barry Nobles.
Lunar Liftoff! and related programming are free with regular Science Museum admission: $15 adults, $14 seniors and college students with ID, $13 ages 3 to 18, free for children under 3 and RMSC members. For group reservations and rates, call 585.697.1942.
For additional information, contact Mare Millow, Marketing Communications Manager, RMSC, 585.697.1944, mmillow@rmsc.org.
Rochester Museum & Science Center (RMSC) includes the Science Museum, Strasenburgh Planetarium and Cumming Nature Center. Offering experiences at the Museum with more than 200 interactive exhibits, Planetarium with a 65-foot dome and Nature Center on 900 acres, the RMSC stimulates community interest in exploration. In addition, the more than 1.2 million RMSC collection items tell the story of Rochester’s past and present, including its rich history of innovation and invention. RMSC receives major funding from Monroe County, where it is one of the top three most visited attractions serving children and families. For more information about RMSC, visit RMSC.org. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.
