CLEVELAND — NASA will share the accomplishments, promise and opportunities for research aboard the International Space Station through a series of events in three Ohio cities during the month of June.

NASA’s Glenn Research Center will host an all-day International Space Station Research Forum on June 17 in its visitor center at the Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland, with participation by International Space Station Program researchers who are taking advantage of the unique orbiting National Laboratory to improve our lives on Earth.

The agency will debut its newest exhibit, “Destination: Station” at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton. The exhibit will be open to the public in Dayton from June 18 through July 27.

“Destination: Station” is a free, multimedia exhibit that will immerse visitors in the story of the space station during a six-week stay. Visitors of all ages will learn about the 24-hour-a-day, 365-days-a-year space-based research that brings results down to Earth. The exhibit includes hands-on activities, imagery and audio and visual technology.

Astronaut Mike Foreman will participate in the museum’s family day, from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. June 18, and throw out a first pitch at a Columbus Clippers baseball game and sign autographs from 6:30-8 p.m. June 20. Astronauts also will make public appearances at the Franklin Park Conservatory and the Columbus Metropolitan Library in Columbus.

The full schedule includes events in Columbus, Dayton and Cleveland (all times are EDT):

Friday June 17, 2011
NASA Glenn Visitor Center at the Great Lakes Science Center, Cleveland

8 a.m.-4:30p.m. International Space Station Research Forum with
Astronaut Don Pettit (advanced registration is required)

Saturday June 18, 2011
Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, Dayton
10-11:30 a.m. Astronaut Mike Foreman presentation and autograph
signing

National Museum of the US Air Force, Dayton
9 a.m.-5 pm “Destination: Station” open to the public through July 27
1:30-3:30 p.m. Astronaut Mike Foreman presentation and autograph
signing

Sunday June 19, 2011
Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus
1:30-2:30 p.m. Astronaut Mike Foreman presentation and autograph
signing
2:30-4:30 p.m. Flat astronaut activity, which is a take-off on the
Flat Stanley phenomena and allows children (and adults) to make their
own “Flat Astronaut” and decorate it as they see fit.

Monday June 20, 2011
Huntington Park, Columbus 7:05 p.m. Astronaut Mike Foreman throws out
first pitch at Columbus Clippers Baseball Game and signs autographs

Tuesday June 21, 2011
Columbus Metropolitan Club
5:30-7:30 p.m. Astronaut Ellen Baker and Ohio State University
graduate student Michael Snyder, whose experiment has flown on the
space station, space station science presentation

Wednesday June 22, 2011
Columbus Metropolitan Library
10:30-11 a.m. Astronaut Ellen Baker reads a book to children
Center of Science and Industry, Columbus
1-1:30 p.m. Astronaut Ellen Baker presentation to Robotics Camp
2-3 p.m. Astronaut Ellen Baker presentation in atrium and autographs

Friday June 24, 2011
Columbus Metropolitan Library
10:30 a.m.-noon NASA employee reads a book to children and flat
astronaut activity

Saturday June 25, 2011
City of Brecksville
2 p.m. Astronaut Mike Good acts as Grand Marshall for hometown parade
and signs autographs at NASA exhibit

For more about the International Space Station, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/station

For astronaut biographies, visit: http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/astrobio.html