The city of Kent will unveil its lunar rover replica during the Lunar Rover STEM Festival from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 14, at the accesso ShoWare Center, 625 W. James St.
The interactive replica will be installed during a future renovation of Kherson Park, downtown at 317 W. Gowe St. The space-themed installation at the park will be aimed to recognize Kent’s history in moon exploration as well as to inspire young people to pursue the many out-of-this world career opportunities still available to them today.
The free ShoWare Center event will feature a special appearance by retired NASA astronaut Captain Gregory “Ray J” Johnson, Boeing corporate historian Michael Lombardi and Boeing lunar rover alumni.
The City Council approved earlier this year spending $123,615 for a company to build the replica, although more than $85,000 of that will come from private fundraising efforts. The rovers were first built at Kent’s Boeing Space Center in 1969. The three lunar rovers used in NASA’s historic Apollo Missions 15, 16 and 17 remain on the moon.
The lunar rovers were recently designated as historical landmarks by the King County Landmarks Commission.
Groups at the ShoWare Center event that will feature hands-on STEM activities for kids of all ages include:
• Blue Origin’s Club for the Future
• The Museum of Flight
• Pacific Science Center
• FIRST Washington
• Highline College MESA/WISE
• Kent Public Library
• Tacoma Public Library
• UW NASA’s Earth and Space Sciences Pipeline
• Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee
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