Wright Brothers National Memorial Celebrates 50th Anniversary of First Lunar Landing

Note: For information about more Lunar Landing anniversary events, visit North Carolina Space Grant on Facebook and Twitter. Also follow the events provided by partners collaborating on Lift Off NC: Apollo + Beyond.

Wright Brothers National Memorial invites the public to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first lunar landing through a series of special events July 18-21. Wright Brothers National Memorial will be fee-free on July 20, and open until 9:00 p.m.

Special guest on July 20 will be active NASA Astronaut Eric A. Boe (Colonel, U.S. Air Force Retired). Boe was selected as an astronaut by NASA in 2000, and is a veteran of two space shuttle flights, serving as a pilot for the space shuttles Endeavour and Discovery. Boe and his crewmates are currently working closely with Boeing to develop their new spacecraft systems, which will provide crew transportation services to the International Space Station and return the ability to launch humans into space from United States soil. Boe will give an “Ask an Astronaut” program and take part in a public session on July 20, prior to speaking at the evening’s feature event. Wright Brothers National Memorial appreciates First Flight Foundation’s efforts to make Eric Boe’s visit to the Outer Banks possible.

During the evening of July 20, a viewing party will be held on the grounds of Wright Brothers National Memorial from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., where the original news footage of the first lunar landing will be rebroadcast. This will recreate a viewing party that took place at the visitor center on July 20, 1969.

Thursday, July 18
6:30 p.m. Apollo 11 Activities at Dowdy Park in Nags Head
Join Park Rangers for hands-on learning activities for kids prior to the 8pm movie showing.

7 p.m. Apollo 11, Final Chapter in the Space Race
National Park Service volunteer, Chris Godart, will present a special program. Explore the events leading up to the historic mission of Apollo 11, and learn how the mission progressed to safely land man on the moon and return to earth.

8 p.m. “Apollo 11” Documentary at Dowdy Park (Special Event)
At around 8:00 p.m., the “Apollo 11” documentary will be shown at Dowdy Park in Nags Head. This free event is supported by the First Flight Foundation.

Friday, July 19
10 a.m., 11 a.m. Sand Dunes & Moon Dust (Ranger Program)

12 .p.m, 4 p.m. Learn about the events leading to the first powered flight in 1903 and its similarities to the Apollo 11 mission.

1 p.m., 2:30 p.m. The Wright Stuff (Ranger Program)
Explore the Legacy of the Wright Brothers from Kitty Hawk to Tranquility Base

Saturday, July 20
10 a.m., 11 a.m., 4 p.m. Sand Dunes & Moon Dust (Ranger Program)
Learn about the events leading to the first powered flight in 1903 and its similarities to the Apollo 11 mission.

10 a.m., 3 p.m., 4:30 p.m. Planet Walk (Ranger Program)
Explore a scale model of the solar system on the grounds of the memorial. Learn about distant planets and how they relate to each other.

12 p.m. Apollo 11, Final Chapter in the Space Race
National Park Service volunteer, Chris Godart, will present a program called “Apollo 11, Final Chapter in the Space Race.” Explore the events leading up to the historic mission of Apollo 11, and learn how the mission progressed to safely land man on the moon and return to earth.

2 p.m. Ask an Astronaut with NASA Astronaut
NASA astronaut and space shuttle veteran Eric Boe will give a short presentation on his experiences in space and lead a question and answer session with the audience.

3 p.m. The Wright Stuff (Ranger Program)
Explore the Legacy of the Wright Brothers from Kitty Hawk to Tranquility Base

5 p.m. Meet and Greet with NASA Astronaut Eric Boe (Public Event)
Meet a real-life astronaut, and interact informally.

7 p.m. Special Guest Speakers (Feature Event)
Active NASA astronaut Eric Boe will discuss spaceflight and the newest NASA initiatives to return to the moon and beyond.

8:10 p.m. Walter Cronkite Footage of the Moon Landing (Feature Event)
Rebroadcast of Walter Cronkite’s famous moon landing news coverage will begin just after 8:00 p.m. and conclude around 8:45 p.m.

Additional July 20 details:

• Visitors should bring beach chairs and flashlights.
• Visitors are encouraged to dress up as astronauts or in 1960s era costumes.
• Special activities for kids will be provided by the NPS and NASA Langley Research Center in the Junior Aviator Store.
• Food trucks will be available at the memorial for guests to purchase food.
• In the event of rain, the speakers will still present their talks under a tent, as well as the viewing party. In the event of severe weather, the event will be canceled.

Sunday, July 21
10 a.m., 11 a.m. Sand Dunes & Moon Dust (Ranger Program)

12 p.m., 4 p.m. Learn about the events leading to the first powered flight in 1903 and its similarities to the Apollo 11 mission.

1 p.m., 2:30 p.m. The Wright Stuff (Ranger Program)
Explore the Legacy of the Wright Brothers from Kitty Hawk to Tranquility Base.

lead photo: The Apollo 11 mission, courtesy of NASA.

adapted from a press release from the National Park Service