TAMIU Planetarium Offers ‘Space Day’ Saturday

Commemorate 50 years of National Aeronautics and Space Administration history with an evening full of fun activities and the Laredo premiere of “The Great Space Race” at the Texas A&M International University Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium Saturday, May 3 with Space Day at TAMIU from 4 – 9 p.m.

Activities are free of charge, but show admission is $4 for adults and $3 for children.

“The Great Space Race” begins with the U.S. and the Soviet Union engaged in a heated competition—the space race. In 1957, the Soviet Union launched the first artificial satellite, Sputnik, marking the start of the space race. Both the U.S. and the Soviet Union wanted to prove their scientific superiority and who their military strength. When the U.S. reached the moon first, the United States won the space race.

“The Great Space Race” follows the story of space exploration from the launch of Sputnik to the Columbia tragedy in full-dome images, animations and dynamic surround sound.

Space Day begins with “50 Years of NASA History” at 4 p.m. in the Lamar Bruni Vergara Science Center exhibit display on the first floor. The rest of the activities are as follows:

• GPS activity at 4:30 p.m. in LBVSC 108: Dr. Kenneth Tobin, associate professor of geology, will show how to use GPS and the technology behind it.
• Geology of Terrestrial Planets and Asteroids at 5 p.m. LBVSC 102: presentation by Dr. Marvin Bennett, assistant professor of geology.
• Alka-Seltzer Rockets at 5:30 p.m. in the LBVSC courtyard: participants will have the opportunity to make their own rocket powered by Alka-Seltzer.
• “The Great Space Race” at 6 p.m. in the LBV Planetarium.
• Make your own Orion model at 6:30 p.m. in the LBVSC courtyard; supplies provided by Lockheed Martin.
• “The Great Space Race” at 7 p.m. in the LBV Planetarium.
• Make your own space glider at 7:30 p.m. in the LBVSC courtyard; materials provided by NASA.
• Final showing of the day of “The Great Space Race” at 8 p.m. in the LBV Planetarium.

Final showing of the day of “The Great Space Race” at 8 p.m. in the LBV Planetarium.

For more information, please call 326.2444 or visit tamiu.edu/coas/planetarium

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu