On April 20, 2017, the Main Hall of Union Station was host to an amazing event. From 9am to 5pm, there was a free Earth Day event featuring storytelling, hands-on activities, Dynamic Planet, a space suit display, and Scott “Scooter” Altman (United States Navy Captain, engineer, test pilot, and former NASA astronaut) signing autographs!

The emcee for the day was Sean Potter, Public Affairs Officer, Earth and Astrophysics, NASA. To kick the event off, opening remarks were given by:
• Dr. Michael Freilich, Director of Earth Science, NASA,
• William Werkheiser, Acting Director, U.S. Geological Survey, and
• Beverley Swaim-Staley, President and CEO, Union Station Redevelopment Corporation.

The children who took part were very excited to learn about NASA and Earth Day. Kamryn Harrison from Roanoke, VA said “I came because it looked really cool. I learned during an eclipse, the moon blocks the sun, but the moon is smaller than the sun and the earth.” A CHEF Homeschooling student, Jalen Green, thought it was interesting that “We can’t go above a certain height – 62,000 feet – in an airplane.” Branaya Reese Brown of Suitland, MD commented that she was learning about special NASA cameras. “They can show you the heat of human bodies and the position where the arms and legs are. [The camera] senses where the heat is and puts an image on the screen. It can find someone’s location and tell you the temperature of the person’s body. I also learned about the countries in the Arctic; their names and their capitals. [The slide] showing how astronauts sleep in space; they look like zombies.” Jackson Flowers of Granby, MA (whose family extended their vacation so their children could take part in the Earth Day with NASA event!) found it interesting that “trillions and trillions of photons evaporate and go down to earth and measure the earth’s height.”

USRC would like to thank all the NASA, U.S. Geological Survey, and Department of State employees who imparted knowledge to interested children and adults throughout the day. We would also like to extend our thanks to the following:
• the over 1000 people who took part in the event;
• Pizzeria Uno for arranging lunch for students invited by NASA;
• the Special Events at Union Station team for all their hard work before, during, and after the event;
• City Sights for agreeing to have their kiosk temporarily relocated out of the Main Hall;
• the Bus Deck Facility for arranging parking spots for buses;
• Professional Security Consultants for patrolling the event; and
• Union Station cleaning staff.

Additional Photos can be found on USRC’s Facebook page at
https://www.facebook.com/usrcdc/posts/1272080612860530.

(Photo Credit: Jillian Hess, ‎USRC Public Relations and Outreach Manager)