Apollo 13 Astronaut Fred Haise to Speak at CSU Coca-Cola Space Science Center Event

May 28, 2019

Columbus State University's Coca-Cola Space Science Center will host legendary Apollo 13 astronaut, Fred Haise, as part of its commemorative events for the 50th anniversary of the Apollo Moon landing. In conjunction with CSU's Hunter Lecture series, Haise will speak to the public at CSU's University Hall on June 21 at 7 p.m. Haise's talk, titled "Failure Is Not an Option," will recount his ill-fated 1970 journey to the Moon, which was portrayed in the 1995 Academy Award winning motion picture, Apollo 13.

The Coca-Cola Space Science Center will also host other events as part of this Apollo commemoration. The Center's Galactic Fan Expo, a celebration of the impact of science on science fiction, is scheduled for June 14-15. Guests will include author Kevin J. Anderson, who has written books in both the Star Wars and Dune series. On June 14, attendees to the premium insider's event will have a chance to fly a virtual space mission to Mars, an activity rarely open to the public. On June 15, Anderson will give a presentation on his work, in part describing how the legacy of the Apollo program impacted the world of science fiction writing. Other Expo activities will include a special effects artist, Star Wars and superhero costumed characters, quick-draw contests, Jedi training, food trucks, and door prizes.

On June 22, the Center will offer additional activities as part of the Apollo Legacy celebration. Guests can see real moon rocks, learn about lunar exploration, investigate fun science concepts with interactive science demonstrations, and build and launch air rockets with commemorative Saturn V designs. There will also be shows in the Omnisphere Theater, NASA artifact tours, observatory tours, the Space Shuttle Odyssey and more.

Tickets for events may be purchased online, and cost will increase the day of events. For more information, please visit www.ccssc.org/apollo50.

The Coca-Cola Space Science Center is a division of Columbus State University, part of the University System of Georgia. The mission of the Coca-Cola Space Science Center is to inspire and educate the next generation of scientists, engineers, and science educators; to foster the public's appreciation for science and technology, and advance scientific literacy throughout our community.