JPL Open House This Weekend

From our Altadena Town Council representative, Alice Wessen, great info on this weekend's open house:

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/events/open-house.cfm


JPL Open House

Come early, take your time.

Please note all bags are subject to search. I smile and work with security. They are there for your safety. And you will get your Open House map and start your adventure!

When lines are too long, head to the robots in the south part of the lab (area 17 of your Open House map). They will have some really cool robots out running. The Mars area (area 8) is in the main area as you walk in from Oak Grove Drive. Truly amazing stuff.

My area is Solar System Missions (area 21), to be found in what JPL'rs call the 303 cafeteria building. We set up Friday. We are staffing all day Sat and Sun.

At 5PM Sunday, my crew breaks everything down, puts it away, and it reopens at 7AM for breakfast on Monday.

#1 Question: What must I see? Depends on your interests, but do visit Mars (#8) and Mobility Systems (#17) and Solar System Missions (#21). The new Earth center is small but cool. Several missions have key events this year (launches and encounters) and the best from my perspective is to talk to the folks on the missions.

#2 Question: What is there for kids? Again, it depends on the kid. My kids loved the spacecraft fabrication area (#16) where hardware is made. They loved the robots running around (area 17) 3D pictures always a hit...watching a video and sometimes just sitting.

PASADENA, Calif. -- NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory invites the public to its annual Open House on Saturday, May 14, and Sunday, May 15, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event, themed "The Excitement in Explorations," invites visitors to share in the wonders of space through high-definition and 3-D videos, live demonstrations, interactions with scientists and engineers, and a first look at JPL's new Earth Science Center.

More info

Dates: Saturday and Sunday, May 14 and 15, 2011

Time: 9am-5pm both days

Admission and parking are free

This popular event celebrates JPL's accomplishments with exhibits and demonstrations about the Laboratory's ongoing research and space exploration. Many of the Lab's scientists and engineers are on hand to answer questions about how spacecraft are sent to other planets, how scientists utilize space technologies to explore Earth and how researchers are searching for planets beyond the solar system.

The Open House is a fun and educational experience for children too, with special hands-on activities designed for kids. Admission and parking are free.

The following items are not permitted at this NASA/JPL Event: weapons, explosives, incendiary devices, dangerous instruments, alcohol, illegal drugs, pets, segways, and all types of skates including skateboards. No bags, backpacks or ice chests are allowed, with the exception of small purses and diaper bags.

Your entry on NASA/JPL property constitutes your agreement that you, your vehicles and your personal belongings are subject to inspection.

JPL is located at 4800 Oak Grove Drive in Pasadena, off the 210 (Foothill) Freeway at the Berkshire Avenue/Oak Grove Drive exit. Parking is available near the Oak Grove main gate and the eastern boundary of JPL, accessible from Windsor Avenue via the Arroyo Boulevard exit off the 210 Freeway.