Bring your family to JPL Open House this weekend - May 14 and 15

JPL Open House is one of our annual favorite events.  If you have never been to one before, don't be daunted by the long lines for many exhibits.  Over the years, we have seen many of the regular exhibits and now we just catch the latest.  There are some favorites which we do yearly.  Especially fun for kids is getting rolled over by a small rover while lying on your belly with others in a row creating a human terrain for the rover.  Adults can participate too:)  You can also have a 3-D photo of yourself with a space backdrop ... strike a Jedi pose and do something with your hands to get a focus for the 3D action ... and you will be able to see your photos online.  We love seeing all the documentaries and it is a good respite in between waiting in lines to get out of the sun and stay cool.  Get a map at the entry and plan your itinerary so you don't have to walk for miles :)  Just kidding ... look for the Mars Rover crossing sign :)

Here are my suggestions/tips for a manageable and happy day exploring the celestial fun at JPL Open House:

1.  Go the earliest you can ... we usually try to get there by opening time.  Bring friends along so you can have fun with friends while waiting in line.  Bring some toys or activities that your child will be happy to be immersed in.  My children like to look for bugs and we bring a bug box along. One year, we created a terrarium with a containers we had.  This year we might even bring watercolors for quick impressionistic watercolor painting while waiting in line.

2.  Bring sunscreen, hats/caps, snacks and water bottles -- we have never had problems bringing our own snacks and water bottles.  There will be plenty of food for sale.  But if you have a picky-eater or you are on a restricted diet, just explain to the security people at the entry checkpoints.  Despite the warning that "No bags, backpacks or ice chests are allowed, except small purses and diaper bags," we have never had a problem with bringing our own snacks (without an ice chest) in a bag subject to inspection.

3.  We have been bringing our kids since the little one was in a stroller .. and we still bring our smallest very portable umbrella stroller along - to carry our stuff (there will be lots of freebies, posters, etc) and it will be a place to sit in line if your child still fits into it.  Your shoulders will thank you for lessening your bodily burdens.

4.  Don't worry if you don't see everything  on your first trip ... pick and choose your favorites.  There are lots of little hands-on things here and there, but many JPL volunteers to explain what you don't understand.  Oh don't miss the education center either.

Have fun ... and we will be there on Sunday if anyone wants to meet up.    Leave a comment or email:
familyfunlearning.gmail.com.

GCP

JPL Invites Public to Open House

JPL's annual Open House on Saturday, May 14, and Sunday, May 15, themed "The Excitement in Explorations," will take visitors on a ride through the wonders of space via 3-D videos, live demonstrations, interactions with scientists and engineers, and a first look at JPL's new Earth Science Center.

PASADENA, Calif. -- NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory invites the public to its annual Open House on Saturday, May 14, and Sunday, May 15, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event, themed "The Excitement in Explorations," invites visitors to share in the wonders of space through high-definition and 3-D videos, live demonstrations, interactions with scientists and engineers, and a first look at JPL's new Earth Science Center.

The Earth Science Center showcases our home planet and JPL's Earth science missions. Visitors will pass by two touchscreens located on opposite walls of the facility that control real-time views of "Eyes on the Earth," an interactive 3-D visualization website. Visitors will also have the opportunity to watch a movie in the 3-D theater, which seats up to 40 people.

Other Open House highlights include:

- A chance to see the most unique car in this world before it leaves Earth: The next rover bound for Mars, Mars Science Laboratory/Curiosity, in the "clean room" before it is shipped to Florida for a November 2011 launch. Curiosity also stars in its own "reality TV show" via live-streaming webcam: http://www.ustream.tv/nasajpl .

- Life-size rover models in a "Mars" test bed.
- A perennial crowd-pleaser, the Robo-Dome, where a pair of 700-pound robots glide in a high-tech arena under artificial stars. The Robo-Dome is used to simulate complex maneuvers that could be used for future space missions.
- JPL's Microdevices Lab, where engineers and scientists use tiny technology to revolutionize space exploration.
- Solar-safe telescopes that allow visitors to see the sun.

Selected locations at Open House will be featured live online, with a live chat available, on Ustream TV at: http://www.ustream.tv/nasajpl2 on Sat., May 14, from 9 a.m. to noon PDT (noon to 3 p.m. EDT).

JPL is located at 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, Calif., 91109. Admission to Open House is free. Parking is also free, but is limited. To get to JPL, take the Berkshire Avenue/Oak Grove Drive exit from the 210 Freeway in La Canada/Flintridge. All visitors should wear comfortable shoes -- no buses will be provided from JPL parking lots. JPL will provide vans for mobility-challenged guests.

Vehicles entering NASA/JPL property are subject to inspection. Visitors cannot bring these items to NASA/JPL: weapons, explosives, incendiary devices, dangerous instruments, alcohol, illegal drugs, pets, all types of skates including skateboards, Segways and bicycles. No bags, backpacks or ice chests are allowed, except small purses and diaper bags.

More information about JPL is online at: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov . A full list, with links, is at: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/social/ .