ML Interest Tag: space-program

“The Right Stuff” from National Geographic Lands on Disney+

by Jennifer Swartvagher

3…2…1…Blast off! The Right Stuff brings us the incredible story of America’s first astronauts. The special two-episode premiere will air on Disney+ on Fri. Oct. 9. 

Based on the bestselling book by Tom Wolfe, the eight-episode season looks at the early days of the U.S. Space Program and the iconic story of America’s first astronauts, the Mercury 7. Produced for National Geographic by Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way and Warner Bros. Television, The Right Stuff takes a clear-eyed look at America’s first “reality show,” when ambitious astronauts and their families became instant celebrities in a competition of money, fame and immortality.

At the height of the Cold War in 1959, America fears it is a nation in decline as the Soviet Union dominates the space race. But, the U.S. government has a solution – put a man in space. Newly-formed NASA is given the monumental task, and a group of the nation’s best engineers estimate they’ll need decades to accomplish the feat, but they only have two years.

NASA engineers, including rocket scientist Bob Gilruth (Patrick Fischler) and Chris Kraft (Eric Ladin), work against the clock under mounting pressure from Washington. Together, they hand select seven astronauts from a pool of military test pilots. 

The two men at the center of it all are Major John Glenn (Patrick J. Adams) and Lieutenant Commander Alan Shepard (Jake McDorman). Other members of the Mercury 7 include Captain Gordo Cooper (Colin O’Donoghue), Wally Schirra (Aaron Staton),Scott Carpenter (James Lafferty), Deke Slayton, (Micah Stock) and Gus Grissom, (Michael Trotter).

The series also examines the astronauts’ families, including Annie Glenn (Nora Zehetner), Louise Shepard (Shannon Lucio) and Trudy Cooper (Eloise Mumford).

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Disney+

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Celebrate American Space Travel with the Space Collection from Skechers

by Jennifer Swartvagher

May 27th marks a new era of human spaceflight with American astronauts launching in an American rocket from American soil for the first time since 2011. This monumental flight to the International Space Station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is sure to inspire a new generation of kids interested in space travel. Skechers’ new Space Collection for kids is the perfect way to encourage your little ones’ interest in space and mark the start of this exciting new chapter in American space travel.

This new out of this world collection features NASA’s iconic logos and intergalactic inspired design elements. This is a great way for your little one to show pride for the American space program and support for NASA’s astronauts throughout their stay on the International Space Station.

Skechers Elite Flex – Retro Rocket is a patriotic red, white and blue slip-on with prominent NASA worm logo. The popular Elite Flex style features a soft knit stretch upper, Air Cooled Memory Foam insole and highly flexible comfort midsole. This style is available in kids’ sizes 10.5 through 6.

Skechers Space Collection

The Skechers Zaggle – Nebuloid is a casual clog with a water friendly sculpted EVA foam upper, convertible heel strap and colorful space inspired front panel design. Complete with original NASA insignia, astronaut and space shuttle icons, the lightweight, durable and easy to wear kids’ clog is perfect for aspiring astronauts’ summer time adventures. This style is available in kids’ sizes 11-4.

Skechers Space Collection

Both pairs are currently available online, with additional Skechers Space Collection styles set to launch throughout the summer and back to school season.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of Skechers

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Here’s How Your Kiddo Can Watch an Astronaut Read Their Favorite Books

by Erica Loop

Now your kiddo can hear a story from space! The Story Time from Space program was launched several years ago (by the Global Space Foundation) to bring an out-of-this-world experience to kids right here on Earth.

Even though story time at your local library is enough to keep the littles busy all afternoon, Story Time from Space adds an extra element of science-filled excitement.

So how can your child listen to a book read from space? The Global Space Education Foundation sends child-friendly picks to the International Space Station. Astronauts videotape themselves reading the books and the Story Time from Space website posts the clips.

If you’re wondering whether your child’s fave reads are on the “Books Approved for Launch” list, as of now titles such as Khalifa and Amal Go To Space, Astronaut Annie, Ada Twist, Scientist, Mousetronaut, Max Goes to mars, Luciana, Braving the Deep, The Mission to Cataria, A Moon of My Own, Notable Notebooks, Next Time You See a Sunset, Max Goes to the International Space Station and Rosie Revere, Engineer are among the top story time picks.

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: All About the ABCS via Instagram

 

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5 People All Kids Should Know About for Black History Month (and Life)

by Amber Guetebier

February is Black History Month so it’s the perfect time to read up, get busy and get inspired with the kids. While this list is just a fraction of the African Americans who have changed history, we’ve found some kid-approved action-items to help connect with these heroes you really should know. Scroll down to learn more.

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1. Mae C. Jemison

Born in 1956
On June 4, 1987 Mae C. Jemison became the first African-American woman to enter the space program. On Sep. 12, 1992. she joined the crew of seven astronauts on the Endeavour, becoming the first African-American woman in space. Born in Decatur, Alabama and raised mostly in Chicago, Il, Jemison holds multiple awards and degrees including a a B.S. in biomedical engineering and an M.D. She has worked as a medical doctor (including in the Peace Corps). As a child, Jemison spent a lot of time in her school library, reading especially books about space.

Let your dreamers build a rocket ship of their own and blast off into outer space

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2. Daniel Hale Williams

(1856-1931)

Born in 1856, in 1893 Daniel Hale Williams opened the Provident Hospital: the first medical facility to have an interracial staff. A major pioneer in the field of medicine, he was one of the first surgeons in the world to successfully perform open heart surgery. As a child he was encouraged to apprentice with a shoemaker and later a barber, but he pushed on to higher education and eventually completed medical training at Chicago Medical College. Because of discrimination, African Americans were not allowed in hospitals, not to mention given staff positions. So Williams opened his own hospital He later also became in chief surgeon at Freedmen’s Hospital, a facility that cared for former enslaved persons. In 1895 he co-founded the National Medical Association, because the American Medical Association did not allow African-American members.

Honor this heart surgeon with some activity to keep your heart healthy (and get the wiggles out) with 15 games and activities to get the kiddos moving.

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3. Gwendolyn Brooks

(1917-2000)

A poet, an author and a teacher, Gwendolyn Elizabeth Brooks made history in 1950 when she became the first African-American woman to be awarded a Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. Brooks began writing at a very young age and published her first poem at 13.By the time she was 16 she had already published nearly 75 poems. Throughout her lifetime, she was awarded more than 75 honorary degrees and a number of prestigious awards and positions. She was the Poet Laureate of Illinois from 1968 until her death in 2000 and was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 1988.

Inspire your budding laureates to create a poem of their own using one of our kid-tested (and mother approved) methods.

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4. Jackie Robinson

(1919-1972)

The first African-American Major League Baseball player in the 20th century, Jackie Robinson made history when he signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, ending a 60 years of segregation in the league. that same year he became Rookie of the Year. In 1949 he was named National League MVP in 1949 and in 1955, helped win the World Series. Born Jack Roosevelt Robinson, he had an older brother who won a silver medal. Jack Roosevelt Robinson had an older brother—Matthew Robinson—who won a silver medal in the 200-meter dash in the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin (Jesse Owens won the gold). Remember, this was Nazi-occupied Germany and his brother’s courage and conviction inspired Jackie to achieve his athletic goals. And achieve them he did.

Learn more about Jackie Robinson by watching this family flick.

DIY Comic step 6
photo: Melissa Hecksher 

5. Morrie Turner

(1923-2014)

When Morrie Turner wondered why there were no minorities in cartoons, his mentor—Charles M. Schulz—suggested that Turner create one. And create he did. Wee Pals, which first appeared in the early 1960s as Dinky Fellas, became the first American syndicated comic strip with a diverse and integrated cast of characters. In addition to the long-running cartoon, he also created the Kid Power animated series, wrote numerous books and was honored with such awards as the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Cartoonists Society and the Sparky Award from the Cartoon Art Museum. Family Circus honors Morrie with a character (Morrie).

Channel your inner Turner today and create a comic strip of your own. Here’s a step by step guide to making an easy one yourself!

Want more? Check out this link for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech and learn more about the great man himself.

How do you celebrate Black History with your family? Share your ideas in the comments below. 

—Amber Guetebier

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It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane…It’s the Space Shuttle Endeavour

by writerredtri

Not so long ago, in a galaxy called the Milky Way, a space shuttle was built in a town about an hour outside of Los Angeles (Palmdale).  It flew over 100 million miles and spent almost a year of its lifetime in outer space.  This dynamic little shuttle wanted nothing more than to retire to its sunny hometown, delighting and educating school kids for generations to come…

Image courtesy of Renata Kanclerz.

You might have heard a little something about the space shuttle Endeavour recently!  It was kind of hard to miss all the excitement, as it flew over major landmarks in the city and school kids lined up on school playgrounds, at the airport or at the beach for a view of the historic flight.  Then a few weeks later the shuttle was met with fans and crowds at every turn as it made its way along the streets of the city.  (Check out an amazing time-lapse video of that trek here.)  And then it arrived home at the California Science Center, where it will live at the Sam Oschin Pavilion. What are you waiting for?  Get your tickets today and go see it up close and in person!  But first… let us give you the scoop on getting the most out of your visit.

Image courtesy of Craig Deitrich via Flickr.

Super cool facts about our very own space shuttle
Our space program has had 5 orbiters—Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour—and together they have made a total of 135 missions. Endeavour was the final orbiter to join the shuttle fleet. Endeavour’s final mission took place in May 2011. More fun facts:

  • Is the first (and only) shuttle named by kids.
  • Is the first shuttle to service the Hubble Space Telescope.
  • It carried the first African-American female astronaut into space (Mae Jemison), the first Japanese astronaut in the shuttle program (Mamoru Mohri) and the first married couple to fly on the same space mission (Mark Lee and Jan Davis).
  • And on Endeavour’s first spaceflight, four spacewalks were completed in a single shuttle mission, which had never been done before.

What to do when you visit
Endeavour is currently on display in the Samuel Oschin Space Shuttle Endeavour Display Pavilion. (Until a new addition to the Science Center called the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center is completed).

Image courtesy of Renata Kanclerz.

Endeavour: The California Story is the first stop on every visit – it’s a companion exhibit featuring pictures and artifacts (like Endeavour’s potty, galley and tires) that relate the shuttle program to California, where the orbiters were built

You may have to forewarn your kiddos that this is a “looking not touching” exhibit.   To preserve the spacecraft, they will not be able to actually enter it.  But they will be able to get as close to Endeavour as possible and examine it from many perspectives and elevations.

Don’t forget the IMAX tickets
Two space IMAX movies will be showing to round out your day.  Choose between Hubble 3D, where the audience goes along with space-walking astronauts as they attempt one of the most difficult and important tasks in NASA’s history- repairing the Hubble Space Telescope; and Blue Planet, which features footage taken by crews during five space shuttle missions (including a breathtaking “earthrise”).  Or better yet, don’t choose, see both!

Image courtesy of Renata Kanclerz.

Space shuttles and astronauts and meteors, oh my!
Did this just whet your appetite for more outer space encounters?  You’re in luck:  Los Angeles is a great place to explore the final frontier!  Not only do we have Jet Propulsion Labs in Pasadena (and did you know, you can book a private tour there at any time), there is the Columbia Memorial Space Center in Downey, the recently renovated Griffith Observatory, with wonderful programs for kids, public star parties and an awesome planetarium, and finally, the Mount Wilson Observatory is open to the public from April 1 – November 30.

The 411
Because you’re not the only family who can’t wait to see the shuttle, a visit requires a timed ticket, which you can reserve in advance online.  The tickets are free, but there is a $2 service charge per ticket.  If you’ve got youngsters who aren’t good at waiting, you may wish to make your trip during non-peak times (peak viewing times are weekday mornings and weekend afternoons), as even timed ticket entry may be delayed during those times.

The California Science Center is located at 700 Exposition Park Drive, right in the middle of Exposition Park (adjacent to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and across the street from the University of Southern California).  There is plenty of on-site parking for $10, or leave your car at home and take public transit! Take the Metro Expo Line and exit at the Expo Park/USC Station.

Food Tips
If you don’t want to eat McDonalds, Taco Bell or a cafeteria style option, pack a picnic and eat in the beautiful Rose Garden behind the museum.  Something is usually in bloom and kids delight in running around the giant fountain!

Let us know about your trip to see the Endeavour. Any tips you’d like to share with our readers? 

— Meghan Rose

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