Report on the Apollo Moon Party
Efforts of Moon Society Chapters, Outposts, and Affiliates
Initial Report Posted July 24, 2009
Efforts of Moon Society Chapters, Outposts, and Affiliates
Initial Report Posted July 24, 2009
AZ - Moon Society Phoenix - Donald Jacques
July 18th Apollo Moon Party Report: - Here is a link to some photos from the exhibit we did at the Arizona Science Center Saturday. The display and the talk Chuck and I gave there and at the Challenger Center went very well and was well received by the staff at each institution. - Mike Mackowski - http://www.flickr.com/photos/mjmackowski/page2/
MO - Moon Society St. Louis - Dave Dietzler
July 19th Report -
We did not put on our own Apollo Moon Party but did support a talk by
Gregg Maryniak (X-Prize org.) at Herbies (formerly Balabans) in Central
West End (near the NW corner of Euclid and McPherson) on July 16 at 7
pm. The title of Gregg's talk was "Can Space Exploration Save the Earth?"
TN - Moon Society Nashville Outpost - Chuck Schlemm
1. Nashville Outpost Apollo 11 anniversay celebration 7/10/09:On July 10, Chuck Schlemm, Nashville Moon Society outpost, did a "public astronomy" event at the "Full Moon Pickin' Party" at Warner Park. This is a monthly outdoor country music concert. I set up a 6" telescope for guests to view Saturn and it's moons, several star systems and by the end of the night, the beautiful rising Moon along side Jupiter and 4 of it's moons.2. Nashville Outpost Apollo 11 anniversay celebration 7/16/09:
As part of the 40th anniversary celebrations of Apollo 11, I gave away "Apollo 11 Moon Pies" after some of the guests viewed the Moon "close up" and told them a little about the Moon Society's efforts to return to the Moon to live and work. I also gave away "Intenational Year of Astronomy" bookmarks and National Science Foundation cards to register to win a Celestron Sky Scout.On July 16, 2009, Chuck Schlemm, Nashville Moon Society outpost, hosted an Apollo 11 anniversary celebration at the Barnard Seyfert Astronomical Society's monthly meeting. I supplied Moon Pies and chocolate chip "Moon rock" cookies for about 25 guests. I displayed models of the Saturn V, Lunar Mudule, Command and Service Module, Lunar Rover with astronaut and posters of Ares I and V. I also had signs stating this was presented by the MOON SOCIETY in honor of the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission. The signs included the MOON SOCIETY web page and mission description.
During the get together, several guests related their memories of the mission and where they were when they saw the moon walk. One guest was proud to tell his story of how he was a young engineer at that time whom NASA personnel called for some operational information about a pressure valve system on the day of launch and that he gave them the information assuring the valve operation was OK, and that his mother told everyone that her son had given the "GO FOR LAUNCH" for Apollo 11. He was just happy to be a part of this momentous program. A good time was had by all.
I plan to have another celebration at a combined MS Outpost and Middle Tennessee Space Society NSS chapter meeting 7/24/09. To the Moon, Chuck Schlemm
TX - Moon Society Houston - Eric Bowen
Apollo Moon Party Saturday, July 18, 2009 - Report: "What a party!"
In spite of inclement weather, Fly Me to the MOON! was a HUGE success! Due to thunderstorms in the area the venue was moved indoors, but we still had a Texas-size good time! Your Houston chapter members manned a booth where we passed out star charts, mini coloring books, and Larry Friesen's handouts on "Galileo and the Telescope" and "Newton and Gravity". But the star attraction was a set of gravity bricks provided by Peter Kokh and Ken Sweeney Sr.; there was a line of kids and adults waiting to try them out most of the night. We also passed out Moon Society flyers and information; several of the guests attending expressed an interest in the society and its work. The crowd was thick all night; we scarcely had a slow moment from six clear up to eight thirty. The line for hot dogs and chips was daunting; a big thanks to Larry Friesen who had the foresight to bring along a bucket of chicken! The event organizers also provided entertainment; we got to hear a good selection of vintage 1969 music being performed by Bandella. They did a great job!Apollo Moon Party Part 2 —July 20, 2009
Thanks go out to all the Houston Chapter members; to Ken Sweeney Sr. for providing the gravity bricks; to Larry Friesen for his excellent handouts; to Ken Bowen for providing our new display banner—it looks great!—and to Craig Beasley for helping to man the booth and give the rest of us a much-needed chance to take a break and see some of the show. An event opportunity like this doesn't come around very often, so I'm very grateful to everyone who helped us take advantage of it with a job well done. Thanks again, everyone!
On a much more somber note: It is with great sadness that we report that our chapter treasurer, Ken Sweeney II, passed away very suddenly this past Wednesday, July 15. He was a very active and committed member and was instrumental in the rebirth of the Houston Chapter. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his father, Ken Sweeney Sr.—also an active Society member, who was recruited by Ken II—and the rest of his family and friends. In accordance with his wishes his remains have been cremated; Ken Sr. informs us that there will be a delayed memorial service but as of this writing arrangements have not been finalized. Godspeed, Ken, and our deepest sympathy and condolences to your family.
On the evening of July 20, 2009, the Houston chapter members met in the meeting room of Coffee Oasis to share a relaxing evening commemorating the 40th anniversary of the First Lunar Landing. There was plenty of food, and we watched the HBO From the Earth to the Moon chapters covering Apollo 9 ("Spider") and Apollo 11 ("Mare Tranquilitatis"). Invitations went out to all the former Houston area members on our mailing list, and we did have several new faces which showed up for the evening. It was good to meet all of you, and we hope to see you again soon!
>>> Second news item, about a special exhibition in the Houston area.
The Moon: "Houston, Tranquility Base Here. The Eagle Has Landed" at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
From September 27, 2009 through January 10, 2010 the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston will host a special exhibition dedicated to the past 500 years of humanity's fascination with the Moon. The exhibit will feature art ranging from Renaissance paintings up to and including some of artist/astronaut Alan Bean's very recent work. Alan Bean himself is
scheduled to give an opening day lecture at the museum. In addition, there will be early scientific instruments, books, moon globes, maps, Galileo Galilei's 1610 treatise on the moon, and objects from NASA on display. The Moon Society has been extended a special invitation to come and view this exhibition, with a discounted admission available if we attend as a group. For more information view the Museum's web site at
http://www.mfah.org/moon
>>> The Houston Chapter's next regular meeting will be at Coffee Oasis, 4650 NASA Rd. 1 in Seabrook, on Monday evening, September 21, 2001. If you're in the area, come on by!
WI - College of the Menominee Nation - Green Bay - Dan Hawk
Recent Activities: Both Dan Hawk and Dave Dunlop attended the International Space Development Conf. to be held in Orlando, May 28th-31st. Our Apollo Moon Party was cancelled as the low summer population of the College, made the effort of little value.
Meetings: Saturday afternoons at the College of the Menominee Nation, 2733 South Ridge Rd, Green Bay, WI
WI - Moon Society Milwaukee Outpost - Lunar Reclamation Society
Milwaukee Apollo Moon Party Cancelled Out by Host - Our plan was to have a manned exhibit at our local IMAX Dome/Planetarium in Milwaukee. At the last minute, the Wednesday prior, we received an email that the facility's "Exhibits Committee" had determined that there was not enough space for our exhibits. We had said that we could upsize or downsize our exhibit to fit the space available. Instead they put up their own exhibit. So this seems another case of the "not invented here" syndrome. At the last minute, we had no other viable options that made any sense.
AMP Party News Outside the US
(only what has been reported to us by our affiliates)
(only what has been reported to us by our affiliates)
MEXICO - (Parties were announced in Mexico City [ since transferred about 50 miles west to Toluca ] and Guadalajara)
Report July 22, 2009 - By Jesus Raygoza B. - A small party was held over the weeken in Guadalajara.SWEDEN - The moon-mine (lunar analog research) project now underway in central Sweden
In Mexico City, due to the request of our sponsors in Toluca, we stopped preparing anything about the event in July. Instead, we are going to hold both events in once: the International Aerospace Congress to be held by the Mexican Council of Space Sciences and Bioastronautics (COMEXCEBA) in Toluca (State of Mexico) the 8th of October, and the Apollo Moon Party the next day, 9th of October, 2009.
So far, I have gotten confirmed international speakers (and now requesting again for one more confirmation), they are: Dr. David G. Schrunk, Dr. Madhu Thangavelu, Dr. Vladimir Alexandrov, and Gregory H. Allison. Perhaps, Elaine A. Walker is coming too (and to sing during the event).
We celebrated the 40th anniversary of the first lunar landing by a kick-off party for the moon-mine. Films from the lunar landing on big screen, footprints in regolith (well let's call it regolith simulant), start of the pumping, cutting the ribbon, balloons, invited speakers, and much more. Coffee was available.
