COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 17, 2013) – It’s astronauts week at the Space Foundation Discovery Center, the region’s only space, science and technology attraction.

The Discovery Center is open to the public from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays, and is located off Garden of the Gods Road at 4425 Arrowswest Drive, Colorado Springs, Colo.

During the “Summer of Discovery,” each week at the Discovery Center focuses on a specific theme, culminating with a full day of special activities each Saturday, included in the price of the admission. The theme for June 18 – 22 is “Astronauts,” featuring presentations by seven NASA astronauts.

Five of the astronauts will tell their stories via video teleconferencing, and on Saturday, June 22, meet Col. Donald R. McMonagle, USAF, Ret., and Col. Gary E. Payton, USAF, Ret., in person at the Discovery Center.
Watch the presentation, ask questions and receive an autographed photo of the astronaut.
Tuesday, June 18, 3:00 – 3:30 p.m.

CAPT Daniel W. Bursch, USN, Ret.
Via video teleconference

Wednesday, June 19, 10:30 – 11:00 a.m.
CAPT Kent V. Rominger, USN, Ret.
Via video teleconference

Wednesday, June 19, noon – 12:30 p.m.
Col. Brian Duffy, USAF, Ret.
Via video teleconference

Thursday, June 20, noon – 12:30 p.m.
Col. Brian Duffy, USAF, Ret.
Via video teleconference

Thursday, June 20, 1:00 – 1:30 p.m.
CAPT David C. Leestma, USN, Ret.
Via video teleconference

Thursday, June 20, 3:00 – 3:30 p.m.
CAPT Kent V. Rominger, USN, Ret.
Via video teleconference

Friday, June 21, 1:00 – 1:30 p.m.
CAPT David C. Leestma, USN, Ret.
Via video teleconference

Saturday, June 22, 10:30 – 11:00 a.m.
Col. Donald R. McMonagle, USAF, Ret.
Via video teleconference

Saturday, June 22, 11:30 a.m. – noon
Nicole Passonno Stott
Via video teleconference

Saturday, June 22, 12:30 – 1:00 p.m.
Col. Donald R. McMonagle, USAF, Ret.
In Person

Saturday, June 22, 2:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Col. Gary E. Payton, USAF, Ret.
In person

Saturday, June 22, 4:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Col. Gary E. Payton, USAF, Ret.
In person

There will also be giveaways of the new book, The Astronaut Wives Club: A True Story, by Lily Koppel.
Astronaut schedules are subject to change. See more about the featured astronauts at www.spacefoundation.org/summer-fun.
Children’s activities during the “Astronauts!” week include a Moon Walk bounce house, interactive touch and learn activities and giveaways, including astronaut patches throughout the week and plastic astronaut helmets on Saturday.

About the Space Foundation Discovery Center

The initial exhibit, Launch to the Moon, includes a collection of space artifacts which chronicles the 1959-1976 United States and Soviet Union space race and the goal to be the first to the Moon.

Daily admission is $9 for adults, $7 for seniors (age 65+), $7 for college students with I.D., $3 for children ages 4-17. Children age three years and younger are admitted free.

Admission is free with military I.D., to those affected by Colorado wildfires and to first responders.
Find $1 off admission coupons online at www.spacefoundation.org/summer-fun and at local Wendy’s this summer.
“Summer of Discovery” co-sponsors are 501st Legion, Drive Sunshine Institute, ScienSonic and Wendy’s. ATK and Snappy Print are printing co-sponsors.

Other “Summer of Discovery” themes include:

* “Blue Planet – Green Living” June 25-29
* “Red, White and Blue” July 2-6
* “Weather Wonders” July 9-13
* “One Giant Leap” July 16-20
* “Women in Spaceflight” July 23-27
* “Colorado Days” July 30-Aug. 3
* “A Taste of Space Technology” Aug. 6-10

Bring Food Donation for Colorado Wildfire Relief

To help people affected by Colorado wildfires, the Space Foundation Discovery Center has been designated a collection point for Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado. The public may bring food donations to the Space Foundation Discovery Center, 4425 Arrowswest Drive, Colorado Springs, between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Mondays through Saturdays. Anyone bringing a food donation will receive a $2 off admission coupon to the Discovery Center.
Care and Share has requested the following food items:

* Canned and boxed meals
* Soup
* Cereal
* Peanut butter
* Canned vegetables and fruit
* Snacks

About the Space Foundation

The foremost advocate for all sectors of the space industry and an expert in all aspects of space, the Space Foundation is a global, nonprofit leader in space awareness activities, educational programs that bring space into the classroom and major industry events, including the Space Symposium, all in support of its mission “to advance space-related endeavors to inspire, enable and propel humanity.” The Space Foundation publishes The Space Report: The Authoritative Guide to Global Space Activity and provides three indexes that track daily U.S. stock market performance of the space industry. Through its Space Certification(TM) and Space Technology Hall of Fame(R) programs, the Space Foundation recognizes space-based technologies and innovations that have been adapted to improve life on Earth. The Space Foundation was founded in 1983 and is based in Colorado Springs, Colo. Its world headquarters features a public Discovery Center with two main areas – the El Pomar Space Gallery and the Northrop Grumman Science Center featuring Science On a Sphere(R). The Space Foundation also conducts research and analysis and government affairs activities from its Washington, D.C., office and has a field office in Houston, Texas. For more information, visit www.SpaceFoundation.org. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, and read about the latest space news and Space Foundation activities in Space Watch.

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Mailing Address:
Space Foundation
4425 Arrowswest Dr.
Colorado Springs, CO 80907
US

Contact Name: Carol Hively
Telephone Number: (719) 576-8000