The date for the contact with the International Space Station has been confirmed, the Santa Barbara Public Library has announced. Contact will be 10 a.m.-noon Wednesday, July 3, in the Central Library’s Faulkner Gallery, 40 E. Anapamu St.
The community is invited to listen in as 12 children ask astronaut Nick Hague questions about life on the space station, careers in STEM, and experiments in space. Doors open at 10 a.m.
Children and families will have the opportunity to explore space through virtual reality, create rocket ships, and participate in other activities before and after the contact, which is scheduled for 10:54 a.m.
Kids and families will be given priority access to the event, and attendees are urged to arrive early. Capacity for the Faulkner Gallery is 175 people, but overflow viewing and listening will be available.
This experience is made possible by the Amateur Radio community in cooperation with NASA. Radio contact will be coordinated by SBPL youth services staff, volunteers with the Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club, and Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) mentors.
“The library is the community’s launch pad to learning, and we’re excited to offer opportunities that excite interest in space exploration, science, technology,” said library director Jessica Cadiente.
All ages have enjoyed space-themed programs and events at the library over the last few months, including learning about astronomy, an introduction to HAM radio, hands-on engineering and technology projects.
Related programming will continue through July. A full calendar of events is at SBPLibrary.org/summer.
To learn more about local amateur radio with the Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club, visit https://www.sbarc.org/. For information about ARISS, visit www.ariss.org.
Visit the Santa Barbara Public Library System online at SBPLibrary.org for information about programs and services. All library programs are free and open to the public.
— Molly Wetta for city of Santa Barbara.