Space Shuttle Enterprise Opens at Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum Today, 7/19

The Space Shuttle Enterprise, the original NASA orbiter that paved the way for America's successful space shuttle program, is scheduled to open to the public at its new home at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, located at Pier 86 (46th Street and 12th Avenue) in Manhattan, today, July 19 at approximately 2:00 PM.

Enterprise is displayed in a climate-controlled and fully-accessible Space Shuttle Pavilion located on Intrepid's Flight Deck, and sits just 10 feet off the ground allowing visitors to walk directly underneath it or ascend to a viewing platform near the nose to get an up-close look. Dramatic lighting and a series of backlit images, texts and video stations highlight the orbiter as an experimental space plane and space ship, as well as a vehicle that continues to enable a greater understanding of science and technology. The exhibition brings to life the remarkable story of the Enterprise as the original prototype space shuttle orbiter in relation to NASA's historic role in experimental aircraft throughout the twentieth-century, as well as the people who made this groundbreaking aerospace creation a reality. The experience will inspire visitors of all ages, offering an unforgettable look at the past, present and future of space missions.

To celebrate the grand opening of the Space Shuttle Pavilion, the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum is presenting "SAMSUNG SpaceFest," a festival that will offer guests a free concert on the Flight Deck on the evening of Wednesday, July 18 followed by more than 40 interactive displays, activities and exhibitions from Thursday, July 19 through Sunday, July 22.

Highlights of "SAMSUNG SpaceFest" include:

- Free concert on Intrepid Flight Deck on the evening of Wednesday, July 18 (details TBD, there will be no access to the Space Shuttle Pavilion at the concert)
- Meet and greets with astronauts Jeffrey Hoffman, Garrett Reisman, Kevin Kregel, Ellen Baker, Mario Runco, Jr., Charles Camarda, Michael Massimino, Karol Bobko and Lee Morin
- A free screening of the popular film Star-Trek outside the Space Pavilion on Intrepid's Flight Deck on Friday, July 20 at 7:30pm
- NASA robotics demonstrations
- Hands-on space technology exhibitions and demonstrations
- Commercial space travel exhibitions
- Space travel simulators
- MARS exploration and NASA's Deep Space Telescopes
- NASA technology center and a 50 foot Geodesic Dome presenting video of Human Exploration Operations

All "SAMSUNG SpaceFest" activities are free with admission to the Museum. All events and appearances are subject to change. For a complete schedule of events, visit www.intrepidmuseum.org.

Now home of the Space Shuttle Enterprise, the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum complex includes the 900-foot-long aircraft carrier 'Intrepid' with seven full decks and four theme halls; the guided missile submarine Growler; and an extensive collection of 27 aircraft including the A-12 Blackbird, the fastest plane in the world, and the British Airways Concorde, the fastest commercial aircraft in the world. Guests can experience areas of the ship including the Flight Deck, Hangar Deck, fo'c'sle (commonly known as the anchor chain room), new multimedia presentations and exhibit collections, interactive educational stations and a state-of-the-art public pier.

Guests to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum also can experience the 12,240 square-foot interactive Exploreum – which contains a variety of hands-on exhibits – that teaches guests about the different properties of the sea, air, space and living at sea as each relates to the ship Intrepid. In the Exploreum, guests can experience a flight simulator, transmit messages using Morse code, sit on the bunk of a crewmember, learn how the Intrepid turned salt water into fresh water and perform various tasks while wearing space gloves.

Museum Hours: April 1 – October 31: Monday - Friday, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM; Saturday-Sunday, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM. November 1 – March 31: Tuesday-Sunday, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Museum Cost of Admission: Adult: $24.00; Seniors and College Students: $20.00; Youth 7-17: $19.00; Veterans: $17.00; Child 3-6: $12.00; Active Military, Retired Military and Children Under 3: Free. General Admission with access to Space Shuttle Pavilion (starting July 19, 2012) Adult: $30.00; Senior and College Students: $26; Youth 7-17 and Veterans: $23.00; Child 3-6: $16.00; Active Military, Retired Military and Children Under 3: Free.