Niagara Aerospace Museum named NASA sunspot site

Pregame the full solar eclipse with four days of family-friendly fun with NASA

Niagara Aerospace Museum Press Release

The Niagara Aerospace Museum will host several NASA experts who will be giving presentations and sharing the latest NASA science and research. The topics will cover everything from solar activity to the new deep space exploration programs and the Artemis mission to go back to the moon.

In addition to the presentations, the museum will offer free admission, children’s activities, and an exclusive line of eclipse merchandise in the gift shop.

Event Schedule

•Thursday, April 4

√ 11 a.m.: “Putting It All Together – Building Blocks to Blastoff! NASA Launch Payload Integration with Launch Site Integration Engineer Josiah Ruelas.

√ 2 p.m.: “NASA Launch Operations Blueprint to Blastoff: Behind the Scenes of Launching a Rocket” with Launch Operations Manager Patrick Renna.

√ All day: Kids' activities and free museum admission.

•Friday, April 5

√ 11 a.m.: “Putting It All Together – Building Blocks to Blastoff! NASA Launch Payload Integration with Launch Site Integration Engineer Josiah Ruelas.

√ 2 p.m.: “Lunar Space Station” with Gateway Deep Space Logistics Studies Manager Bianca M. Rhym.

√ All day: kids' activities and free museum admission.

•Saturday, April 6

√ 11 a.m.: “NASA Mission Design” with Mission Design Engineer Benjamin Asher.

√ 2 p.m.: “Solar Eclipses” from NASA expert David Cheney, program executive of the heliophysics division at NASA headquarters.

√ All day: kids' activities and free museum admission.

•Sunday, April 7

√ 11 a.m.: “Striving for the Stars: Return to the Moon” with Management and Program Analyst Hunter Goodenow.

√ 2 p.m.: “NASA Launch Operations Blueprint to Blastoff: Behind the Scenes of Launching a Rocket” with Launch Operations Manager Patrick Renna.

√ All day: kids’ activities and free museum admission.

NOTE: There are no events at the museum on Monday, April 8.

•Tuesday, April 9

√ The museum will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with docents available for tours.

All events are free to the public, but pre-reservation is required. Visit https://niagaraaerospacemuseum.org/events/2024eclipse/ for more information or to reserve a seat.

The Niagara Aerospace Museum is one of only eight official NASA partner locations in the area.

“Given WNY’s extensive connection to NASA and the aerospace industry, partnering with NASA for this once-in-a-lifetime event is so fitting,” said Niagara Aerospace Museum Board President Don Erwin.

“The eclipse is generating so much excitement about science and space, and those are two major parts of our museum,” Niagara Aerospace Museum Executive Director Lindsey Lauren Visser said. “We hope this opportunity to connect young minds with NASA experts will help encourage a lifelong love of science and maybe even a career in a STEM field.”

Niagara Aerospace Museum’s mission is to preserve and share the rich heritage of and ongoing contributions to aviation and aerospace design and manufacturing in Western New York, and to inspire and facilitate educational opportunities for learners of all ages in science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM). For more information, visit https://NiagaraAerospaceMuseum.org.