Union City, Tenn. — Discovery Park of America will be joining the rest of the nation in commemorating the 50th anniversary of the first humans to land on the Moon this Sat., July 20, 2019, with activities planned throughout the day. Apollo 11 landed on that date 50 years ago with astronaut Neil Armstrong making history as the first “man on the Moon.” As Armstrong exited the spacecraft Apollo and took his first few steps on the Moon, he made the famous declaration that Apollo’s successful mission and his first step on the Moon was “one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

DPA will offer hands-on, space-related activities throughout the day. Dr. Lionel Crews, Associate Professor of Physics at UTM, and Russell Orr, a certified NASA Solar System Ambassador and DPA Education Specialist, will provide programming from 10:15 a.m. until noon in Dinosaur Hall. Additionally, Orr will provide a special presentation beginning at 3 p.m. in the Reelfoot Room, called, “The Rainbow behind the Moon.” This presentation is one of Orr’s favorites as he shares interesting facts in an entertaining way about how people were making amazing space exploration discoveries one hundred years before the Apollo landing.

Russell Orr, certified NASA Solar System Ambassador

Out at STEM Landing, guests will experience a live audio feed from NASA’s mission control, synchronized to the second so it can be heard just as the astronauts and mission control heard it 50 years earlier. Additionally, the 1969 CBS live news coverage will be televised in the Tennessee Room. Both will lead up to the Moon landing at 2:17 CST. These two areas will allow guests to hear and watch the same coverage that fascinated the people of this nation at the exact same time 50 years ago.

“At Discovery Park of America, we’re proud that our mission includes taking STEM teaching out of the classroom and lab and applying it in hands-on, state-of-the-art experiences,” said Scott Williams, president and CEO at Discovery Park. “A day-long celebration of this incredible moment in history is the perfect example of how we can take exciting moments in history and use them to inspire a whole new generation of explorers.”

All of the commemorative space programs and activities this Saturday are free for members or anyone with park admission.

Discovery Park of America is open from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Tues. through Sun. and has a mission to inspire children and adults to see beyond. For a complete list of upcoming events and educational opportunities, visit the park’s website at www.discoveryparkofamerica.com.