Touch the Moon in Virginia

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Sep 14, 2011, 12:16 ET

HOUSTON, Sept. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Virginians have the rare chance to touch a nearly 4-billion-year-old piece of moon rock and learn about the solar system at NASA's Driven to Explore traveling exhibit, a multimedia experience that immerses visitors in the story of NASA.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20081007/38461LOGO)

Visits in Virginia include:

Stuart – Patrick County Agricultural Fair, 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. EDT Tuesday, Sept. 20, and 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21

Virginia Beach – NAS Oceana Air Show, 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25

Charlottesville – Virginia Discovery Museum, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28

Driven to Explore allows visitors to learn why we explore, discover the challenges of human space exploration and how NASA provides critical technological advances to improve life on Earth. The exhibit highlights advanced human research that will ensure safe and sustainable future missions, and next-generation vehicles and surface systems destined for use exploring beyond low Earth orbit.

The centerpiece of Driven to Explore is the opportunity to touch a lunar rock brought to Earth by the astronauts of Apollo 17 in 1972, America's last human mission to the moon. The rock is one of only eight lunar samples the public can touch.

In addition, NASA personnel will be around the state raising awareness about the space program and the fascinating world of science.

From 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23, astronaut Chris Ferguson, the commander of NASA's final space shuttle mission, will join the Virginia Air & Space Center for a special event commemorating the Space Shuttle Program.

From 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, NASA's Dr. Ann Martin will be at the Pretlow Planetarium to talk about the solar system and extragalactic astronomy.

For more information about NASA human space exploration, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/exploration

SOURCE NASA