Press Release

For Immediate Release:

NASA’s Driven to Explore Mobile Exhibit Parked at Air & Space Museum Through Wednesday

Free exhibit explores the significance of human space exploration and allows visitors to touch a 4-billion-year-old piece of moon rock

San Diego, CA – May 14, 2012 – San Diegans now have the rare chance to touch a nearly 4-billion-year-old piece of moon rock at NASA’s Driven to Explore traveling exhibit, a multimedia experience that immerses visitors in the story of NASA. The exhibit will be at the San Diego Air & Space Museum on Monday, May 14, Tuesday, May 15, and Wednesday, May 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The centerpiece of Driven to Explore is the opportunity to touch a lunar rock sample brought to Earth by the astronauts of Apollo 17 in 1972, America’s last human mission to the moon. The rock is one of only eight lunar samples made available for the public to touch.

Driven to Explore allows visitors to learn why we explore, discover the challenges of human space exploration and how NASA provides critical technological advances to improve life on Earth. The exhibit also details the accomplishments of the space shuttle and the International Space Station.

Since the retirement of the space shuttle, NASA is investing in the building blocks of a more capable approach to space exploration, including research and development to increase space travel capabilities. In support of these efforts, NASA is performing field tests, designing surface systems and conducting advanced human research to ensure that future missions are safe, sustainable and affordable.

For more information about NASA exploration, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/exploration

For more information about the San Diego Air & Space Museum please call (619) 234-8291 or visit www.sandiegoairandspace.org.

The San Diego Air & Space Museum is California’s official air and space museum and education center. The Museum is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and it was the first aero-themed Museum to be accredited by the American Association of Museums. Now on display, “How Things Fly,” a special exhibition that examines the wonder of flight through four fun and interactive zones. The Museum is located at 2001 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA 92101. The Museum and gift store are open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with admissions until 4:00 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Email spacewalk@sandiegospace.org for submission guidelines and here for further details.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 1, 2012

Contact:
Jesse Clark
San Diego Space Society
(619) 512-3592
info@sdspace.com

The San Diego Space Society is proud to announce the addition of Kyle Stock as the new Bussard Scoop Newsletter Editor. Kyle will be focusing on bringing the news of SD Space activities, events and programs to your email inbox each month.

Kyle brings his excitement for space and astronomy along with his passion for educating minds to SD Space. Look for more news updates on what’s coming as well as more in-depth articles covering our activities. We look forward to what Kyle will bring to the newsletter with more articles.

“Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.” My hero and inspiration Carl Sagan spoke these words and I attempt to live that ethic and share it with my students. My name is Kyle Stock. I am a science teacher at a Solana Beach elementary school, passionate surfer, backyard scientist (astronomy, geology, botany etc), backpacker, runner, learner and educator.

I am consumed by the Cosmos! I devour all available media about the history and future of spaceflight. My favorite book is The Right Stuff. On any clear night, I can be found either in my Cardiff backyard or the dark skies of Anza-Borrego with my 12” dobsonian telescope (The Carl Sagan Telescope- all cool telescopes are named after dead astronomers).

We look forward to Kyle adding his enthusiasm for space to the Bussard Scoop monthly newsletter. Look for his first publication in June.

About the SD Space

The San Diego Space Society (“SD Space”) was founded in 2008 with the purpose of raising awareness and educating the general public to the benefits of human exploration of space and San Diego’s role in space development, as well as to the idea of creating a spacefaring civilization within our lifetimes.

SD Space is headquartered at the Space Travelers Emporium, a storefront and workshop in the South Park neighborhood.

6:30pm – 8:00pm

Location:
Space Travelers Emporium (map)
1947 30th St. San Diego, CA 92102

No plans for the evening and wondering what to do? Join us at the Space Travelers Emporium for one of our theme nights. Each week day it’s something new.

Tea Party on the Moon – Tuesday night come and enjoy a relaxing cup of tea while learning about 1 of the moons in our solar system. What is it this week? Stop by or email us for the moon of the week.

Fourth Rock Cafe – On Wednesday fill your belly while chatting with good friends about the newest developments in space travel.

Zero-G Cinema – Thursday night watch exciting new documentaries or thought provoking science fiction films.

Bottles and Rockets – quaff a tasty beer, a savor a nice glass of wine, and share your recommendations for fantastic space travel related books.

If you are interested or have questions, contact emporium@sandiegospace.org for more information.

The Space Travelers Emporium is changing. The interior will undergo a complete renovation later this year. Everything will be improved – a dedicated library area, new computer workstations, new storage and display areas. The redesign is intended to showcase space travel and exploration and give us a more re-configurable space for our programs, workshops and educational offerings.

Please contribute to our renovation fund. We are raising money to pay for these renovations. All donations are tax deductible and will go directly toward the renovations.

You can make a donation online by clicking the button below or send a donation by mail to:

San Diego Space Society, 8690 Aero Drive Ste 115, #77, San Diego, CA 92123.

Make checks payable to San Diego Space Society.

Update: We have had an initial pledge of $1000 to kick off the campaign. Please consider donating as generously as you can.

We had to share this awesome photo of San Diego taken from the ISS. Posted by UT San Diego.

The San Diego Space Society is looking for the most awesome newsletter editor in Southern California!

Do you
• have a passion for Space Exploration?
• enjoy interviewing and writing about local and regional space activities?
• want to have media access to one of a kind space events?

Then this might be of interest to YOU!

Please send an email and resume here.

For other ways to volunteer, check out our wishlist Give to SD Space.

Need a little help in Math and Science?

Sign up today for the San Diego Space Society after school Math and Science and Math tutoring at the Space Travelers Emporium!

Grade Levels: K- 8

Sample Targeted Areas of Assistance:

• Math review, preparation and walkthroughs
• Arithmetic and times tables
• Pre-Algebra and Algebra
• Geometry
• Science tutoring, walkthroughs and explanations
• Earth and Space Sciences
• Biology and Life Sciences
• Space, Astronomy and Physical Sciences

Signup information here.

Guest post by Elizabeth Baker
March 16. 2012

On March 11, along with about 30 people, I spent a sunny Sunday afternoon at the San Diego Space Travelers Emporium, attending a Town Hall-style meeting via Skype with Bill Nye, “The Science Guy,” now the Executive Director of The Planetary Society. The event featured good food and interesting conversation, with topics ranging from NASA’s budget, the future of commercial space exploration, Thorium, other countries’ space programs and their impact on once what was once the exclusive “club” of USA and Russia, asteroids hurtling toward earth, space trash, and how to reengage the pioneer spirit of America for the new challenge of planetary exploration and why should we care/go/do anyway?

Fascinating stuff. Really.

Gracious, animated and dispensing with an anticipated opening statement, Bill jumped right in, taking questions from the group, and it became apparent straight away that space could not have a better advocate, ambassador, Pied Piper or cattle-prod! He’s obviously passionate about topic, realistic about the challenges facing the industry and open minded as only a confident visionary can be. He’s definitely a man with a plan.

When the call ended, the conversation continued and I, as probably the least knowledgeable person in the room, marveled at the collaborative tone and complex topics being discussed by multi-generational attendees. Young people were eagerly sharing their ideas and more seasoned space-fans obviously delighted by the commonality of interest, enthusiastically communicated their thoughts and experiences without even a whisper of stereotypical educational/experience/maturity bias. I truly felt as if I was watching the baton being passed in the shutter-speed instant where neither has let go.

It was surprisingly a very moving experience. In this little shop in a neighborhood in San Diego, really, really smart people with the common bond of all things “space” came together just to talk about it. I remember where I was when Neil Armstrong stepped on the moon (Wildwood, NJ, sunburned and Noxzema’d up, thank you very much); there were a few people who could talk from first-hand experience about John Glenn; and everyone was talking about Mars! Thinking about our little emporium “dot” on the map, connecting to other little dots on the global map…l was humbled by the human constellation that had materialized before my eyes in the sunlight and reminded of a line from Macbeth:

“Screw up your courage to the sticking-place, and we’ll not fail.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 1, 2012

Contact:
Jesse Clark
San Diego Space Society
(619) 512-3592
info@sdspace.com

The San Diego Space Society is proud to announce the addition the addition of Nate McIntyre as the new Social Media Manager. Nate will be focusing on keeping SD Space and the Space Travelers Emporium active in social media circles discussing current space topics and promoting important SD Space and Emporium activities and events.

Nate is a San Diego State alum with a BA in Political Science and a former Marine Corps reservist. Space exploration and new technologies have always been and area of interest for him, going back to when he launched model rockets and watched sci-fi with his family as a child. Nate is currently employed at a law firm in the downtown area and is in the process of applying to grad school. His ultimate goal is to begin a career on the business and policy side of space exploration.

Nate brings a high degree of interest and enthusiasm for space and wants to share that with members and supports near and far. Look for more activity with our current social media connections and well as new ones in the near future.

SD Space Twitter
SD Space Facebook
SD Space Google+
Emporium Google+

About the SD Space

The San Diego Space Society (“SD Space”) was founded in 2008 with the purpose of raising awareness and educating the general public to the benefits of human exploration of space and San Diego’s role in space development, as well as to the idea of creating a spacefaring civilization within our lifetimes.

SD Space is headquartered at the Space Travelers Emporium, a storefront and workshop in the South Park neighborhood.