Apollo 13 and Apollo 7 Pilots Join Former Stars Goalie to Unveil New Exhibit and Support Museum’s Space Education Program
The stars will come out at the Frontiers of Flight Museum, 6911 Lemmon Ave., when NASA astronauts join a former Dallas Stars player to launch a new exhibit and an out-of-this-world space education initiative staring at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 24. Visit: http://www.flightmuseum.com/exploration-space/
This celestial evening reception, titled Exploration Space, will feature guest speaker Capt. Fred Haise, the Lunar Module Pilot ofApollo 13.
Col. Walter Cunningham, the Lunar Module Pilot of Apollo 7, and Marty Turco, CEO of C5 Youth Foundation of Texas, NHL All-Star Goalie and former Dallas Stars #35, will join Capt. Haise for the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Museum’s new planetarium, “SPace Odyssey Capsule,” also known as “SPOC.”
Exploration Space is a fundraising event that will include a VIP reception with Capt. Haise, Col. Cunningham, and Mr. Turco. The ribbon-cutting ceremony of SPOC will be followed by an opportunity to enjoy viewing the stars in the planetarium.
SPOC is a portable digital planetarium system which uses innovative nightshade simulation and visualization software for teaching and exploring astronomy, Earth science, and related topics. This 6-meter dome planetarium features a unique fisheye lens and allows guests to have a 360-degree visual experience offering perfect viewing from any position.
“Since SPOC is so versatile, it’s sure to dazzle our budding astronomers as they are taken on a tour of the Solar System,” says Cheryl Sutterfield-Jones, Frontiers of Flight Museum CEO. She explains attendees will enter the dome and be introduced to a "star filled" sky. SPOC’s software is extremely powerful and allows guests to visit the moon and planets in our Solar System, or even leave the Milky Way galaxy.
“Our amazing SPOC planetarium is a vibrant addition to our space exploration initiative at the Museum,” says Sutterfield-Jones. “Thanks to this new exhibit, students will learn how to identify every planet in our solar system in dramatic "flights" towards each world. They will also be introduced to Greek mythological characters and see how these heroes of the past can be found in the stars. Visitors of all ages will witness the night sky in different seasons and from different global perspectives.”
The Museum aims to increase students’ understanding of space exploration as part of the new space education initiative. “SPOC is particularly exciting because of its potential to encourage youngsters to consider careers in aerospace,” says Sutterfield-Jones. “The North Texas community as a whole and the aerospace industry in particular will benefit from more young people pursuing STEM careers and aerospace jobs. The Frontiers of Flight Museum hopes to inspire kids beyond the classroom and encourage them to explore a new world of possibilities.”
The Museum offers its thanks to RISE, presenting sponsor of the Frontiers of Flight Museum’s 2016 VIP Experiences Series, including the Exploration Space reception. Exploration Space is the final event in the 2016 VIP Experiences Series offered at the Frontiers of Flight Museum that invites supporters, donors and friends to engage with the aviation and business community. Previous events included the Haddaway Distinguished Award Luncheon and the Red Hot Rhythms Casino and Dance.
Sponsors of the Frontiers of Flight Museum 2016 VIP Experiences Series include:
Presenting VIP Sponsor, RISE
Gena & Dan Hamilton
The Alinda Hill Wikert Foundation
Shackelford, Bowen, McKinley & Norton, LLP
Corgan
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
Dallas Love Field
Stewart & Averille Dawson
Dickie+Associates
Herbert Minerals Ltd.
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
Cheryl Sutterfield-Jones & Ron Jones
Purewater Baths
Signature Flight Support
Southwest Airlines
UPS
UT – Dallas History of Aviation
Dr. & Mrs. David Webb, Jr.
Cindy & Tony Weber Foundation
DETAILS: EXPLORATION SPACE @ Monday, Oct. 24
5:30 PM VIP Reception
6:00 PM General Reception
6:30 PM Ribbon-Cutting CeremonyAttire: Business
Individual tickets: $100; various sponsorship packages available. For info visit: http://www.flightmuseum.com/exploration-space/or call (214) 350-3600.
BIO BRIEFS
Fred W. Haise
Fred Haise began his 20-year NASA career as an Aeronautical Research Pilot at NASA’s Lewis Research Center in 1959. After being named Outstanding Graduate of the Air Force’s Aerospace Research Pilot School Class 64A, he served as a research pilot at the NASA Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base before being selected as an Astronaut in 1966. Mr. Haise served as backup crew for the Apollo 8, Apollo 11, and Apollo 16 Missions. He flew as the Lunar Module Pilot on the aborted Apollo 13 Mission in 1970 that was dramatized in the Hollywood movie titled Apollo 13. He also flew five flights as the Commander of the Space Shuttle Enterprise in 1977 for the Approach and Landing Test Program at Edwards Air Force Base.
Among his awards are the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Haley Astronautics Award, the General Thomas D. White Space Trophy, the Society of Experimental Test Pilots Kinchloe “Test Pilot of the Year” Award, the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, the NASA Exceptional Service Award, the NASA Special Achievement Award, the Aerospace Walk of Honor and the US Astronaut Hall of Fame.
Walt Cunningham
Walter Cunningham has enjoyed careers in the military, civilian government service and private industry. He holds a Master’s Degree in Physics from UCLA and is a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at the Harvard Graduate School of Business. He began his flying career as a Marine Corps fighter pilot, flying night fighters in Korea (VMF-513) in 1954.
The remainder of his flying career was in active and reserve day fighter squadrons. He retired after 24 years with the rank of Colonel and 4,500 hours of flying time.
He was selected as an Astronaut in 1963, where he served on the primary crew of Apollo 2 (cancelled) and backup crew for Apollo 1 (cancelled due to a disastrous fire during a launch pad test). In October 1968, he was the Lunar Module Pilot of Apollo 7, the first manned test of the Apollo Program. Apollo 7 is still the longest, most ambitious and most successful first flight of any new flying machine. Cunningham's last assignment at the Johnson Space Center was as Chief of the Skylab Branch of the Fight Crew Directorate.
Marty Turco
Marty Turco, Former Dallas Stars goalie, currently serves as CEO of C5 Youth Foundation of Texas. Turco spent the first nine of his 11 NHL seasons as the starting goaltender for the Dallas Stars and currently holds the franchise record for regular season games played, wins, and shutouts.
He is a three-time All Star and won the Dallas Stars community service award six of the nine seasons he was with the team. Turco also earned the Eighth Annual NHL Foundation Player Award in 2006 for his charitable impact and contributions. Since retirement, Turco has turned his attention to various business ventures and continues his charitable work with C5 Youth Foundation of Texas.