HONOLULU — A Moon Rover will make its public debut during Discover Your Future in Aviation at Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor Saturday, March 29.
A NASA Launch Entry Suit (LES) used on multiple space shuttle missions will also be on exhibit during the museum’s fifth annual Discover Your Future in Aviation day.
Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems (PISCES), located on the Big Island of Hawaii, acquired the 726-pound lunar rover from Ontario Drive Gear (ODG), a Canadian manufacturer of amphibious vehicles. It is the first of its kind in Hawaii and will be on display at Pacific Aviation Museum one day only.
“As our museum honors all aspects of aviation, we are excited to present these rare space programs for our visitor to enjoy,” said Executive Director Kenneth DeHoff.
The Alpha Argo rover model is the size of a golf cart and will play a central role in PISCES’ STEM education activities, like those featured at Discover Your Future in Aviation. This rover can search the Moon for water and ice, a skill set used to transform raw materials on other planets into resources needed for human survival in space.
NASA’s LES space suit, aka the “Pumpkin Suit,” will be displayed alongside the lunar rover. This suit was worn by Charles Bolden, NASA’s current administrator. He was nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, making him the very first African-American to head the space agency on a permanent basis. Bolden’s space suit is the only pumpkin suit available for loan, and this is the very first time it will be in Hawaii.
Discover Your Future in Aviation is free with regular museum admission and free to museum members.
For more information: PacificAviationMuseum.org
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