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Simulated NASA journey to help celebrate Regents Hall

By David Gonnerman '90
September 26, 2008

Anyone interested in what it might be like to visit the moon or Mars will have a chance to learn about space travel during the dedication of the new Regents Hall of Natural and Mathematical Sciences at St. Olaf College Oct. 2-4. Visitors will be able to experience the future of NASA exploration, take a simulated journey into outer space and even touch a moon rock.

The traveling exhibit, called NASA Exploration Experience, is just one of the many events scheduled for dedication weekend. The exhibit and all dedication activities will be free and open to the public (unless otherwise noted). In addition, St. Olaf is covering the expenses of field trips to the exhibit by local sixth-graders.

On Thursday, Oct. 2, and Friday, Oct. 3, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., and Saturday, Oct. 4, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., visitors will be able to walk through the NASA exhibit in the Mellby parking lot (adjacent to the Speech-Theater building).

The Exploration Experience begins with a simulated visit to the moon, where visitors will build a lunar outpost and have the opportunity to touch a moon rock. Explorers also will see a virtual model of the moon, interacting with the lunar surface to learn about NASA's research and future plans for exploration.

The second section of the exhibit features an interactive theater that introduces visitors to NASA?s plan of returning to the moon. Viewers will see new vehicles being developed for future exploration of the solar system. Jeevan Perera, risk manager for the Orion space vehicle, and other NASA employees will be on hand to answer questions.

Contact David Gonnerman at 507-786-3315 or gonnermd@stolaf.edu.