‘NASA on the Square’ Bringing Marshall Space Flight Center to Downtown Huntsville, Alabama

WHAT: “NASA on the Square” will be a fun “open house” on Saturday, June 21, showcasing Marshall Space Flight Center’s work on the Space Launch System and Orion spacecraft — the most powerful rocket ever built and the vehicle that will take astronauts on deep-space missions to asteroids and Mars — and with a variety of International Space Station and other science missions.

The Marshall Center is partnering with Downtown Huntsville Inc. for the free event, which will present dozens of exhibits, demonstrations, bands featuring Marshall Center musicians, educational activities and games for all ages.

WHERE: On the streets and sidewalks surrounding the Madison County Courthouse on the Square in downtown Huntsville, Alabama. The streets around the Square will be closed to traffic during the event.

WHEN: NASA on the Square will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 21, 2014.

At noon there will be brief program with speakers including Marshall Space Flight Center Director Patrick Scheuermann, Downtown Huntsville Inc. Chief Executive Officer Chad Emerson, Huntsville City Council President Mark Russell and District 5 Madison County Commissioner Phil Riddick.

Immediately after the program, at approximately 12:20 p.m., Center Director Scheuermann will be available to news media.

On every half-hour from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Marshall Center engineers, scientists, program managers and other team members, and former astronaut Robert “Hoot” Gibson, will be making short presentations about their work.

News media with questions about the Marshall Center’s NASA on the Square activities and coverage opportunities should contact Marshall Center Public Affairs Officer Kim Newton at 256-653-5173.

For more information, follow Marshall Space Flight Center’s social media channels or visit the center’s Web page:

http://www.facebook.com/nasamarshallcenter

http://twitter.com/NASA_Marshall

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28634332@N05/sets

www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall

NASA on the Square visitors and participants are encouraged to share their photos on social media with the hashtag #spaceville.

For a downloadable map of the NASA on the Square exhibits and activities, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/NASA_on_the_Square.pdf

NASA partners, including ATK, Boeing, Jacobs, Teledyne Brown and Dynetics will also have exhibits on the Square. Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood is providing the stage and sound system. Aerojet Rocketdyne is sponsoring the music entertainment. Other participants include the University of Alabama in Huntsville, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Sci-Quest, National Space Club, U.S. Space & Rocket Center and the Huntsville-Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau.