More than 1,000 guests celebrate 15th Annual Space Day at the San Diego Air & Space Museum

More than 1,000 guests celebrated the 15^thAnnual Space Day at the San Diego Air & Space Museum in Balboa Park this past Saturday, May 19. The museum celebrates Space Day every year in May.  Space Day featured demonstrations, giveaways, and fun hands-on activities with local and national space experts, including NASA Astronaut Woody Spring, who spent more than 12 hours walking in space while aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis. Spring gave an informative presentation to the assembled space enthusiasts, revealing the behind-the-scenes and inner workings of life aboard a Space Shuttle, including how the shuttle is assembled, how it feels to be launched into space, and what it is like to eat, sleep and exercise in a zero gravity environment.

“Do think going into space is fun?” Spring asked the assembled families.  “You better believe it is fun. And you know what?  If you dream big and follow through on your dreams, you too could go into space one day.” In addition to visiting with Spring at Space Day, kids of all ages talked to space experts, touched a meteorite, built and flew paper rockets, and designed their own space mission patches.

In addition to the San Diego Air & Space Museum, invited presenters included NASA, JPL, Sally Ride Science, SETI, Lockheed Martin, El Trompo Museo Interactivo, San Diego Astronomy Association, UCSD Near-Space Balloon, General Atomics, The Planetary Society, Geek Girl, FIRST Robotics and many others.

The Museum’s unique space galleries and exhibits were also open for viewing throughout the event, including the authentic Apollo 9 Command Module, moon rocks, space suits and more.

The San Diego Air & Space Museum is California’s official air and space museum and education center. The Museum is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and was the first aero-themed Museum to be accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. Now showing: SPEED: Science in Motion, a fun, interactive exploration of the fastest vehicles ever produced. The Museum is located at 2001 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA 92101. The Museum and gift store are open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with admissions until 4:30 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. For more information about the museum, visit www.sandiegoairandspace.org

Moreno Aguiari

Born in Milan, Italy, Moreno moved to the U.S. in 1999 to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. His aviation passion began early, inspired by his uncle, an F-104 Starfighter Crew Chief, and his father, a military traffic controller. Childhood adventures included camping outside military bases and watching planes at Aeroporto Linate. In 1999, he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to obtain his commercial pilot license, a move that became permanent. With 24 years in the U.S., he now flies full-time for a Part 91 business aviation company in Atlanta. He is actively involved with the Commemorative Air Force, the D-Day Squadron, and other aviation organizations. He enjoys life with his supportive wife and three wonderful children.

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