NASA will mark the 55th anniversary of the first astronauts landing on the Moon through various in-person, virtual, and engagement activities across the United States.
Events will mark the technology that enabled the Apollo 11 crewed lunar landing on July 20, 1969, as well as Apollo-era inventions and techniques that spread into public life. The events will occur between Monday, July 15, and Thursday, July 25, and include;
- Monday, July 15 and Tuesday, July 16, NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, Louisiana: NASA will host the rollout of the agency’s Artemis II SLS (Space Launch System) core stage.
- Friday, July 19, NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston: In a dedication and ribbon cutting, the centre will name its building 12 the ‘Dorothy Vaughan Center in Honor of the Women of Apollo.’ Vaughan was a mathematician, computer programmer, and NASA’s first Black manager.
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Sunday, July 21, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland: NASA Goddard will host a model rocket contest conducted by the National Association of Rocketry Headquarters Astro Modeling Section. This free contest is open to all model rocketeers and the public.
Other activities include:
- Tuesday, July 16 through Wednesday, July 24, Space Center Houston: The centre will host pop-up science labs, mission briefings, special tram tours that feature the Mission Control Center at NASA Johnson, and more.
- Friday, July 19 through Saturday, July 20, National Cathedral in Washington: The cathedral will host a festival marking the 50th anniversary of its Space Window, which contains a piece of lunar rock that was donated by NASA and the crew of Apollo 11.
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Thursday, July 25, San Diego Comic-Con: NASA representatives will participate in a panel entitled ‘Exploring the Moon: the Artemis Generation.’ Panelists include NASA astronaut Stan Lone, NASA chief technologist A.C. Charania, Dionne Hernandes-Lugo from NASA’s Gateway Program, and Jackelynne Silva-Martinez from NASA Human Health and Performance.
During the week, the agency also will share the iconic bootprint image and the significance of Apollo 11 to NASA’s mission, as well as use the #Apollo11 hashtag, across its digital platforms online.
