Roper Mountain Science Center, located in Greenville, South Carolina, welcomed over 2,200 visitors of all ages to JOURNEY TO OTHER WORLDS for SPACE DAY on March 11th, 2017. The Science Center partnered with organizations from across the Upstate to bring in interactive exhibits, stage shows, presentations, and hands-on activities to inspire, awe, and motivate visitors to LOOK UP and CATCH THE VISION of aviators and astronomers from the past, present, and future. As a recipient of the 2017 Explore Science: Earth and Space physical toolkit, the Science Center was able to engage audiences with exciting demonstrations, informative discussions in the fields of Earth and space science, take home materials. Using the toolkits, participants made a cloud in a bottle, investigated gravity, imagined what extraterrestrial life might be like, explored icy worlds, learned all about the upcoming total solar eclipse, and much more!
In addition to visitors getting to participate in Explore Science: Earth and Space hands-on activities, Space Day at Roper Mountain Science Center showcased the re-opening of the giant dome theater and T.C. Hooper planetarium. Other activities taking place included flight simulators, model rocket launches, table top comets, lander and straw rocket design challenges, drones, and RC planes. Also on display at the Science Center were Moon rocks and meteorites as well as historic NASA artifacts. Additionally, visitors were able to walk through and sit in a UH-72A Lakota helicopter with the SC Army National Guard!
Space Day 2017 at Roper Mountain Science Center was supported through collaborations with Johnson Space Center, NASA Langley, National Informal STEM Education Network (NISE Net), Michelin, GE Aviation, Lockheed Martin, Clemson University, Greenville Technical College, University of South Carolina Upstate, Embry Riddle Aeronautics-Worldwide, Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute, Purdue Alumni, Army National Guard, East North Street Academy of Science and Math, Fountain Inn Elementary, Wade Hampton High School, Byrnes High School Honors Aviation, Western Carolina Remote Control Skyhawks, Asheville Star Trek Club Alaric, and the Upstate SC Youth Aviators Association.
Thank you to our amazing collaborators, sponsors, supporters, and visitors who helped make Space Day 2017 an out-of-this-world success at Roper Mountain Science Center!
To learn more about the Roper Mountain Science Center’s Space Day 2017, please contact Latongia Pepper.
About Roper Mountain Science Center
Roper Mountain Science Center ignites our natural curiosity to explore and shape our world. The most impactful entity in the Upstate focused on science and science education, RMSC provides curriculum-based, hands-on learning for elementary and middle school students; offers inspiring “edutainment” for the public with Starry Nights, Second Saturdays and other special events; and produces state-of-the-art training for teachers. Each year, more than 50,000 students, 6,000 teachers, and 30,000 families and adults visit Roper Mountain Science Center.
For more information about upcoming events visit http://www.ropermountain.org