2019 NASA Day in Montgomery

Officials from NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, visited Montgomery, Alabama, Thursday, April 18, to spread the word about the importance of the state's role in urgently leading America back to the Moon and to inspire the next generations of engineers, scientists and explorers during Alabama Aerospace Week. Media were invited to hear NASA Marshall Center Director Jody Singer and NASA Astronaut Joseph Acaba speak to students of Pike Road Middle School, located at 4710 Pike Road, in Pike Road, Alabama, about the importance of the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Throughout the day, Singer, Acaba and other NASA team members met with state leaders, lawmakers and the public at the Alabama State Capitol. From 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., NASA exhibits were displayed outside the Alabama State House on Washington Street to give the public a look at work underway on NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and other NASA projects. Featured will be a space shuttle main engine test engine -- similar to the RS-25 engines that will be used to power SLS -- and exhibits celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing on July 20, 1969 -- one of humanity’s greatest achievements.