NASA, in collaboration with the Houston Super Bowl Host Committee and six aerospace partners are inviting media to a special preview at 1 p.m. Monday, January 30, of the space-themed Future Flight fan experience sharing NASA’s vision for the incredible journey to Mars and beyond.
Media who would like to participate should arrive at Super Bowl LIVE at the media check-in Entrance 5 off Lamar St. at Discovery Green (near the intersections of La Branch and Lamar) no later than 12:45 p.m. Monday. Free media parking is available at 700 Leeland St.
Future Flight is part of the 2017 Super Bowl LIVE fan festival and features an out-of-this-world virtual reality ride that allows fans to experience a launch to Mars and a landing back on the Super Bowl LI 50-yard-line on Earth, plus numerous hands-on, space-related exhibits. The event will include remarks from the Houston Super Bowl Host Committee and NASA as well as numerous subject matter experts from the industry partners.
The event will include brief remarks from the following:
Ellen Ochoa, NASA Johnson Space Center director and veteran NASA astronaut
Bob Cabana, NASA Kennedy Space Center director and veteran NASA astronaut
Todd May, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center director
Mark Kirasich, NASA Orion Program manager
Julie Robinson, International Space Station Program chief scientist
Dr. Mary Lynne Dittmar, executive director of the Coalition for Deep Space Exploration
Sallie Sargent, president and CEO of the Houston Super Bowl Host Committee
Immediately following the media briefing, guests will be invited to tour the Future Flight area, which will include subject matter experts from all six industry partners stationed at the below on-site exhibits. Guests will also have the opportunity to ride the virtual reality drop-tower ride to Mars.
NASA — Numerous technologies paving the way for human deep space exploration and the agency’s journey to Mars
Aerojet Rocketdyne — RS-25 and RL10 engines, as well as an interactive learning experience about the Journey to Mars
Boeing — Explore Beyond Earth interactive experience detailing American’s human spaceflight systems and missions
Lockheed Martin — Take a trip to the Red Planet on the Mars Bus, the first immersive virtual-reality vehicle ever built. The bus replicates 200 square miles of Martian terrain and gives riders an interactive adventure simulating a drive on the surface of Mars
Northrop Grumman Corporation — A full-size model of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, which will be the most powerful space telescope ever built, will be located at the intersection of Austin and Clay, right around the corner from Future Flight
Orbital ATK — “Fly Me to Mars” Interactive Launcher allows guests to choose their own rocket and experience how materials affect launch performance
Raytheon Company — “Science museum on wheels” STEM trailer providing a hands-on exhibits about energy, space, weather, biotechnology and aerodynamics
