Celebrate WNBA All-Star Weekend with NASA at All-Star Shoot for the Stars at The Children’s Museum July 17-19
Celebrate WNBA All-Star Weekend with NASA at All-Star Shoot for the Stars at The Children’s Museum July 17-19
WNBA All-Star weekend is in Indianapolis for the first time ever, and to celebrate we’re honoring women in sports and space with a special three-day event July 17-19 that will be out-of-this-world!
Throughout WNBA All-Star weekend, NASA’s Glenn Research Center will launch a temporary exhibit at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. Inside the exhibit, visitors can talk with NASA experts – and on Saturday, July 19 only, there will be a meet-and-greet with Artemis II astronaut Victor Glover, one of four astronauts who will be on the first mission to the Moon in more than 50 years!
Also in the exhibit, guests can take a selfie with Eva the astronaut mascot at the Cosmic Selfie Station, experience virtual reality by “trying” on an astronaut suit, “exploring” a Mars Habitat or “working” on the International Space Station, get hands-on with the Orion Spaceflight Simulator and so much more. Visitors also will be the first to see NASA’s new Evolution of the Spacesuit exhibit, which highlights three historic spacesuits and a prototype spacesuit for future missions.
“NASA is thrilled to bring an out-of-this-world experience to the Indianapolis Children’s Museum,” said NASA Glenn News Chief Jan Wittry, who grew up in Indianapolis. “Through this traveling exhibit, we hope to inspire the next generation of explorers by showing them that a career at NASA is a lot like playing basketball. Whether you're an astronaut or an athlete, a researcher or a referee, a communicator or a coach…we all train, practice, and push our limits to reach the top of our game.”
Additionally, the museum's science programs team will host space-themed, hands-on programming in the Corteva Agriscience STEMLab on Level 4 throughout the weekend. There will also be NASA photo opportunities around the museum.
Basketball programming will also be offered in the 7.5 acre Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience all weekend long. Shoot some hoops at the Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever Basketball Experience at the 17 “my size” basketball hoops, practice passing and dribbling, beat the shot clock or even try out a three-point challenge.
On July 17 only, sports legend, WNBA All-Star and Hoosier icon Tamika Catchings will be hosting a public basketball clinic for visitors in the Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever Basketball Experience at 2:30 p.m. On-site registration is required day-of. She will be here representing the Catch the Stars Foundation, founded by Tamika herself, which empowers youth ages 7-18 to achieve their dreams by providing programs focused on fitness, literacy, and youth development.
“All-Star Shoot for the Stars is the ultimate summer celebration for young basketball fans and future space explorers alike to celebrate WNBA All-Star weekend here in Indy,” said Jennifer Pace Robinson, president and CEO of The Children’s Museum. “From shooting hoops on the Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever courts to learning from real NASA experts, we’re offering families a one-of-a-kind experience that inspires big dreams – both on the court and among the stars.”
Marvella Sports will also have a presence with Marvella Mobile, which brings transformational sports, leadership and wellness experiences directly to children in communities across Indiana and Illinois. From high-touch sports clinics teaching physical literacy to health education and storytelling, it’s a dynamic extension of the Marvella Foundation, whose mission is to build strong, confident girls through access, equity, and opportunity in sports. For more information visit www.marvellasports.com.
That’s one small step for woman, one giant leap for womankind! All-Star Shoot for the Stars lands at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis July 17-19! Click here for more details before it blasts off in 3...2...1...!
About NASA’s Glenn Research Center
NASA explores the universe and inspires the world through discovery. It all starts at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland -- the only NASA center in the Midwest. For nearly 85 years, Glenn has enabled NASA’s most famous space missions and made air travel safer, faster, quieter, and more sustainable. For more information about NASA Glenn, visit www.nasa.gov/glenn and follow @nasaglenn on social media.
