Giving Thanks for the Science of Flight
We’re putting a little lift into the holiday season during Open Kids Labs at the Joe Clark Innovation Lab!
Students and families will explore the challenges of holiday air travel, imagine celebrating Thanksgiving in space, and even discover how math helps make the perfect pumpkin pie. We’ll also fly some turkey copters and study the science behind Thanksgiving Day parade balloons.
Open Kids Labs are every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday, 10 am–2 pm.
Come to Science Saturday on November 21, 10 am–2 pm.
On Science Saturday, power up your curiosity with a hands-on exploration of robotics, technology, and engineering! There’s something for every young innovator to discover. Build electronic circuits, create a one-of-a-kind masterpiece with a drawing robot, watch a 3D printer in action, make your own flying robot copter and send it soaring through the wind tunnel, take on robot-inspired challenges, and more!
We have so many special guests this month!
First, you’ll meet Astro the robotic dog and James Hardin and Nate Heritlein, who will show you exactly how he works.
Astro is from the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Materials and Manufacturing Directorate at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, and instead of fur and paws, he is made of cutting-edge metal, wires, and computers.
Come see this high-tech canine in action! You will discover how advanced robotics supports research, automation, and manufacturing, and see firsthand how engineers combine technology, programming, and creative problem-solving to bring robots to life.
We’ll also welcome Dayton’s own BONDS Team 5811—the rockstars of high school engineering and innovation! They are bringing a high-energy, hands-on look into the world of competitive robotics. These talented high schoolers who design, build, and program their high-tech marvels from scratch will be on hand to share their custom designs, talk about their robotics journey, and show you what it takes to compete. Whether you love coding, building, or just want to see cool technology up close, you won’t want to miss it!
During your visit, make sure to see the R2-D2 Astromech Droid, part of the highly popular “Iconic Starfighters: Rivals of the Silver Screen” special exhibition in Gallery 4 of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. This detailed, movable recreation of R2-D2 sits alongside a full-scale X-wing starfighter replica and features functional lighting and head rotation.
The museum also houses an expansive collection of advanced, real-world robotic aircraft. You can view full-sized remotely piloted aircraft like the RQ-4 Global Hawk and the MQ-9 Reaper, as well as experimental autonomous vehicles like the XQ-58 Valkyrie in the Research and Development Gallery.
From real-world robotic pups to galaxies far, far away—it’s a day of high-flying, circuit-building fun you won’t want to miss!
Can’t make it to the Lab this month? Wherever you are, you can still explore from home with our online games, experiments, and other activities. You can watch NASA’s ‘Valkyrie’ A Humanoid Space Robot, build a robot with PBS Kids Ready Jet Go!, and build a real robo arm.
You can also check out our Facebook page on November 21 for a Science Saturday video with ASTRO and interviews with the Bonds Team.
Enshrinee Spotlight: Sally Ride
Did you know that Sally Ride, America’s first woman in space, helped pave the way for space robotics? As a NASA astronaut, Ride contributed to the development of the Space Shuttle’s robotic arm, a remotely operated system used to deploy, retrieve, and maneuver objects in space. Her work highlights how robotics and human ingenuity come together to solve challenges beyond Earth. This November, discover how Ride’s pioneering achievements continue to inspire future engineers, scientists, and innovators to reach for the stars!
