For Immediate Release: April 18, 2023
Contact:
Marie Cheek
Community Relations Coordinator
Culture & Heritage Museums
www.chmuseums.org
803.909.7312 mcheek@chmuseums.org
“Space Craze” lunch & learn program at Museum of York County
Dr. Margaret Weitekamp, space historian and curator at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, to talk about her book “Space Craze” at Museum of York County
ROCK HILL, S.C. – The Museum of York County, a Smithsonian Affiliate, presents a special lunch & learn program with Dr. Margaret Weitekamp, space historian and curator at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum. Weitekamp will speak about her book “Space Craze: America’s Enduring Fascination with Real and Imagined Spaceflight,” which highlights a variety of space topics such as science fiction fandoms, space stations, and the Apollo program, all focused on the human race’s fascination with spaceflight.
Dr. Weitekamp will be available for a book signing after the lunch & learn program. Hard copies of “Space Craze” available for sale in the Museum Store.
In addition to Dr. Weitekamp’s “Space Craze” lunch & learn program, guests can explore space science activities and a planetarium show, “The Worlds Within Star Wars,” throughout the day.
WHAT: “Space Craze” lunch & learn, book signing, space science activities, and “The Worlds
Within Star Worlds” planetarium show
WHEN: May 6 — Dr. Weitekamp’s “Space Craze” Lunch & Learn at 11 a.m. – registration required.
Space Science Activities 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. – free with general admission.
“The Worlds Within Star Worlds” planetarium show at 10:15, 1:15, 2:15, and 3:15 – free with general admission.
TICKETS: Limited seating, online registration required for “Space Craze” lunch & learn with Dr. Margaret Weitekamp. Ages 12 and up. $5 for members; nonmembers pay $5. and general admission.
The planetarium show and space science activities are included with general admission.
WHERE: Museum of York County, 4621 Mt. Gallant Rd., Rock Hill, S.C. 29732
PHONE: Visitors Services – 803.329.2121
All programs subject to change; please check the website for updates: chmuseums.org
GOOD TO KNOW:
“The Worlds Within Star Worlds” is 20-minute full-dome planetarium show that explores how the fictional planetary system from the movie “Star Wars” connects to exoplanets and our existing solar system.
Space Science Activities throughout the day at Museum of York County will use National Informal STEM Education kits:
NISE Craters: model the impact of meteorites on the surface of a planet or moon
NISE Design Build Test: think up a space expedition, draw a design for a spacecraft, and then create one
NISE Imagining Life: read about ‘extremophiles’ or animals that live in extreme habitats, and then imagine what kinds of animals could survive on the extreme environments of other planets
NISE Orbiting Objects: this activity uses a gravity well and spheres of different sizes and weights to see how mass effects gravitational attraction in space
About Dr. Margaret A. Weitekamp:
“In addition to serving as the department chair, Dr. Margaret A. Weitekamp curates the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum’s social and cultural history of spaceflight collection, more than 5,000 artifacts that include space memorabilia and space science fiction objects. Weitekamp is the author of numerous scholar articles as well as Right Stuff, Wrong Sex: America’s First Women in Space Program, which won the Eugene M. Emme Award for Astronautical Literature from the American Astronautical Society. In addition, she wrote an award-winning children’s picture book Pluto’s Secret: An Icy World’s Tale of Discovery (Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2013), in collaboration with David DeVorkin and illustrated by Diane Kidd. With Anne Collins Goodyear, she co-edited the ninth volume in the Artefacts series on the material culture of science and technology, Analyzing Art and Aesthetics (Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press, 2013). She is currently completing a new book project, a social and cultural history of space memorabilia.” National Air and Space Museum’s website 4/11/2023
IMAGES:
- Dr. Margaret Weitekamp, space historian and curator at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum to talk about her book “Space Craze” at Museum of York County on May 6. (Photo courtesy of National Air and Space Museum)
- Book cover for “Space Craze” by Margaret Weitekamp.
- Exterior view of Museum of York County. (Credit CHM staff)
For high resolution images, contact mcheek@chmuseums.org
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