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George Mason University

Space Day 2022

Space Day 2022

George Mason University, Project Caelus, and The Pearl Project Institute presented the first George Mason Space Day, which was open to all students and families. Mason Space Day was an exciting, collaborative, and engaging event, with an aim to educate the public on the technology and science behind some of the leading aerospace projects in the area.

Didn't attend Space Day? Watch the live-steam below. 

Photos by: Cristian Torres/Strategic Communications/George Mason

From left to right: Piotr Pachowicz, Associate Professor, College of Engineering and Computing; Fernando Miralles-Wilhelm, Dean, College of Science; Col. Michael Hopkins, Space Force and NASA Astronaut; Peter Plavchan, Associate Professor, College of Science; Gabriele Belle, Assistant Professor, Physics and Astronomy; and Steve Dam, President and Chief Operating Officer SPEC Innovations.
Project Caelus with Dean Fernando Miralles-Wilhelm
Space Day Hakeem
Robin McDougal, CEO of The Pearl Project Institute, Col. Michael Hopkins, Space Force and NASA Astronaut, and Dr. Sandra Cauffman, Astrophysics Division Deputy Director NASA.
Hub Space Day
Astronaut at Space Day
Dr. Gabriele Belle, Assistant Professor, Physics and Astronomy, with Col. Michael Hopkins, Space Force and NASA Astronaut.
Peter Plavchan, Associate Professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy
Space Day in Hub Ballroom
Dean Fernando Miralles-Wilhelm at Space Day
Dr. Sandra Cauffman, Astrophysics Division Deputy Director NASA
Space Day at Research Hall
Space Day student volunteers
Project Caelus at Space Day
Student at Space Day

Didn't attend Space Day? Watch the live-stream

The Space Day live-stream includes event overview with Peter Plavchan, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Dean's welcome with Fernando Miralles Wilhelm, New Age for Human Space Flight with NASA Space Force Col Michael Hopkins, and How to Apply Digital Engineering to Future Space Tech.

Event Speakers 

Speaker Photos

 

 

Event Information Summary

  • Open to the public. Registration required.
  • Free to attend
  • Saturday, September 10, 2022
  • 4pm-9pm, with talks from 4:30-7:30pm [Schedule Below]
  • Eateries [see below]
  • Locations: George Mason University Hub Ballroom and Research Hall [see below]
  • COVID Event Policy: Face masks are strongly encouraged indoors and recommended outdoors.  If you are experiencing any COVID-related symptoms, please do not attend the event.
  • All minors MUST be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian at all times

Speaker Schedule

Speaker Schedule

Locations and Parking Information 

Parking Information and Event Locations

4400 Rivanna River Way

George Mason University

Fairfax VA 22030

Click here for Google Maps link: The HUB Ballroom & Research Hall

General Event Parking is in Lot A.  Signs and volunteers will be available to direct you to the event locations. Accessible Parking is available in Lot A, the Shenandoah Parking Garage, and along Rivanna River Way at the cul-de-sac turn-around.

Bus transportation is also available: There is a main bus terminal on campus for the Cue bus system. There are also a couple of Metro bus stops near campus, including the 176, 306, 17G and 29K lines.

Event Features 

Two Smooth Dudes Food Truck
  • Main talk hall in The Hub Ballroom, 630 limited seating capacity
  • 5 additional activity spaces in the Hub, and 5 activity spaces in Research Hall
  • Hands on Stem Activities including bottle rockets, Solar telescope viewing, see Quantum Mechanics with your own eyes, and more! 
  • From the Ground Up: Project Caelus
  • Interstellar Dreams Space Center Launch
  • Observatory Tours Viewing after Sunset  
  • Planetarium Shows
  • Two Smooth Dudes Food Truck

Event Food Options

Two Smooth Dudes Food Truck

Southside Dining:

  • Student dining hall, buffet stations
  • $12 for members of public

Johnson Center:

  • Akeno Sushi until 8pm
  • The Express Convenience Store until 8pm
  • Blaze Pizza from 3pm to 8pm
  • Chipotle until 10pm
  • Panera Bread until 8pm

Northern Neck:

  • Starbucks until 7pm

Merten Hall:

  • Manhattan Pizza until 9pm
  • Panda Express until 5pm

2022 Space Day Participants

Event Activities

About Project Caelus:  Project Caelus is a team of students from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology that seeks to educate the public on the propulsion, avionics, and electronics of the first high-school built liquid fueled rocket. Through our project, we hope to show young individuals that it is possible to accomplish goals never done before and that there is no age threshold to exploring science and pushing technological boundaries.

Sponsors

Thank you to our wonderful sponsors without whom this event would not have been possible:

George Mason University: the College of Science, Mason Observatories, the Department of Physics and Astronomy, and Welcome2Mason

Project Caelus

Pearl Project Institute and Interstellar Dreams

SPEC Innovations

Dark Sky Friends

Fairfax County Park Authority

International Dark Sky Association

Interested in being an event sponsor, having a table at the event, or are you a local DMV area space-related organization? please get in touch and let us know!  Sponsor Signup is here

Volunteers

Interested in being a volunteer? Please contact: Dr Gabriele Belle gbelle@gmu.edu and Dr Peter Plavchan pplavcha@gmu.edu

Code of Conduct

Please treat everyone with respect at all times, and abide by Mason's Physics and Astronomy Department Code of Conduct

Children and minors in attendance:

All minors MUST be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian at all times. Parents: Space Day allows children the opportunity to learn about space in a fun and engaging environment.  Keep your hands to yourself and respect the property of those around you and on the Mason campus.  Remember to have fun!

Questions? Contact: Dr. Gabriele Belle gbelle@gmu.edu and Dr. Peter Plavchan pplavcha@gmu.edu with any questions.