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Biggest Annual U.S. Air Show to Salute NASA’s 50th Anniversary

Written by thomas · Filed Under Aeronautics News 

July 23, 2008

thomas

WASHINGTON, July 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — NASA’s 50th anniversary
celebration continues this summer with special recognition at EAA
AirVenture 2008, the United States’ biggest annual air show, held in
Oshkosh, Wis., July 28 – Aug. 3.

One of the Experimental Aircraft Association activities commemorating
five decades of NASA’s aerospace achievements will be an appearance by NASA
Administrator Michael Griffin.

“I’m looking forward to being part of the world of flight that comes
together each year at Oshkosh,” said Griffin. “EAA has long been a
supporter of NASA, as we have a shared passion for innovation and flight.”

Griffin’s passion for flight is not just job-related. He’s a pilot, who
holds a flight instructor certificate with instrument and multiengine
ratings, and the co-owner of a small aircraft.

Griffin is scheduled to speak on Tuesday, July 29, at 11:30 a.m. CDT,
in Forum Pavilion 6 on the grounds of Wittman Regional Airport, in Oshkosh.

Visitors to EAA AirVenture also will be able to hear from other current
and former NASA employees in a number of locations during the seven-day
event. NASA will have a special anniversary display in the EAA AirVenture
Museum and a traveling exhibit parked near Exhibits Hangar “E.”

“NASA is proud to be able to display unique artifacts depicting the
history of NASA and U.S. spaceflight in the EAA AirVenture Museum,” said
Jim Hull, NASA exhibit and artifact manager at NASA Headquarters in
Washington. “We will not only have objects from the space program, but also
from NASA aeronautics research that visitors can enjoy.”

Some of the artifacts include gloves from the Apollo era, space shuttle
tiles and tires, a launch entry suit and a Mars rover model. Visitors to
the museum also can view models of the next-generation space vehicles, the
ARES rockets and Orion capsule, which are being developed to return humans
to the moon. Also on display will be an exhibit about NASA wind tunnels and
wind tunnel research.

A traveling display, called “Journey to Tomorrow,” includes interactive
computer kiosks that feature NASA highlights. Examples include “Celebrating
100 Years of Flight,” which is about NASA’s contributions to the first
century of powered flight; “Brain Bites,” which answers common questions
about air and space travel; and a lunar landing simulator. Additional
workstations include a planetary gravity demonstrator and a solar system
scale where visitors discover how much they would weigh on each of the
planets.

NASA’s 50th anniversary also is being honored at other venues at
AirVenture, including EAA’s Theater in the Woods. Former astronaut Robert
“Hoot” Gibson is planning to host a NASA birthday celebration Wednesday
evening, July 30, and former astronaut Joe Engle and retired test pilot
Fitz Fulton are scheduled to pay tribute to 50 years of NASA aeronautics
Saturday night, Aug. 2.

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