FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 31, 2019
MEDIA CONTACT: Cody Hefner (513) 608-5777, chefner@cincymuseum.org

Future rocket scientists inspiring the next generation

UC aerospace and engineering students leading gallery talks at Cincinnati Museum Center

CINCINNATI – Cincinnati Museum Center (CMC) is partnering with the University of Cincinnati (UC) Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics to dig into the physics and science behind rocketry and space exploration. Students from UC will be offering free gallery talks with admission to Destination Moon: The Apollo 11 Mission.

Destination Moon Exhibit photoA range of aerospace and engineering students from freshman to PhD candidate will lead informal talks and demonstrations in the exhibition gallery, adding a deep science component to the historic display. UC will discuss a variety of topics, including a closer look at the Apollo 11 command module Columbia – on display in the exhibition – and a computer program that lets guests control a rocket during take-off.

“It’s a joy to watch as these future rocket scientists immersed in this work share that passion with our guests,” says Elizabeth Pierce, president and CEO of Cincinnati Museum Center. “We’re fortunate to have this repository of talented minds in our community.”

Guests can pick the brains of UC’s aerospace and engineering students on the following dates and times, with more to be added in the future:

  • November 3, 1 to 5 p.m.
  • November 7, 1 to 5 p.m.
  • November 8, 4 to 5 p.m.
  • November 11, 3 to 5 p.m.
  • November 14, 1 to 5 p.m.
  • November 21, 1 to 5 p.m.
  • November 22, 4 to 5 p.m.
  • November 23, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • November 25, 3 to 5 p.m.
  • November 29, 4 to 5 p.m.
  • November 30, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • December 2, 3 to 5 p.m.

First man on the Moon Neil Armstrong taught aerospace engineering at UC following his career with NASA and also served as a trustee for CMC’s Museum of Natural History & Science.

“Who better to share the engineering and physics behind rocketry than students from the university where Neil Armstrong himself taught?” mused Pierce.

Destination Moon features over 20 objects flown aboard the historic Apollo 11 mission, including Buzz Aldrin’s gold-visored helmet and gloves worn on the lunar surface, and medical and survival kits. The centerpiece of the exhibition is the command module Columbia – a true national treasure – on display outside Washington, DC for the final time.

Visit cincymuseum.org/destination-moon for more details and a complete list of dates.

###

About Cincinnati Museum Center
Cincinnati Museum Center (CMC) at Union Terminal is a nationally recognized institution and national historic landmark. Dedicated to sparking community dialogue, insight and inspiration, CMC was awarded the 2009 National Medal for Museum and Library Service from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and received accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums in 2012. CMC is one of a select few museums in the nation with both of these honors, making it a unique asset and a vital community resource. Union Terminal has been voted the nation's 45th most important building by the American Institute of Architects. Organizations within CMC include the Cincinnati History Museum, Duke Energy Children's Museum, Museum of Natural History & Science, Robert D. Lindner Family OMNIMAX® Theater and Cincinnati History Library & Archives. Recognized by Forbes Traveler Magazine as the 17th most visited museum in the country, CMC welcomes more than one million visitors annually. For more information, visit www.cincymuseum.org.