Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Apollo at your Ballpark
LRO has a partnership with Minor League Baseball to bring Space Science to the ballpark. Here are some suggested resources to share NASA science with fans.
Below is a list of suggested resources for your event. Feel free to use the suggested activities however they will work best for you or search through some of the included NASA resources to find other materials resources to support your event.
If you use any of these resources at your ballparks, please let us know! In order to continue supporting projects and creating packages like this, it is important that we understand how it was used, what was helpful, and how many people were at your event. Please share that information with us through the survey link here.
For specialty jerseys and advertising, it is important that you understand the rules about using the NASA meatball logo.
Important Dates for Apollo 50th Anniversaries
Apollo 11
July 16 – 24, 1969 (50th anniversary: July 16 – 24, 2019) First humans to set foot on the Moon
Apollo 12
November 14 – 24, 1969 (November 14 – 24, 2019) Saturn V rocket was struck by lightning twice during launch Pieces of the Surveyor 3 probe were collected and returned to Earth for analysis
Apollo 13
April 11 – 17, 1970 (April 11 – 17, 2020) Farthest people have ever been from Earth! Moon landing aborted after an explosion in one of the oxygen tanks crippled the spacecraft during flight
Apollo 14
January 31 – February 9, 1971 (January 31 – February 9,2021) Lunar module landed in the Moon’s Fra Mauro formation (Apollo 13’s original target) Astronaut Stuart Roosa brought tree seeds with him on the journey, many of which are growing here on Earth today! Astronaut Alan Shepard, lunar golfer, hit two golf balls on the Moon at the end of Apollo 14’s last extravehicular activity
Apollo 15
July 26 – August 7, 1971 (July 26 – August 7, 2021) Improved technology allowed these astronauts to stay longer on the Moon, almost 3 days! First use of the Lunar Roving Vehicle, enabling longer traveling distances
Apollo 16
April 16 – 27, 1972 (April 16 – 27, 2022) Astronauts deployed and operated the first astronomical telescope on the Moon
Apollo 17
December 7 – 19, 1972 (December 7 – 19, 2022) Apollo program’s final launch First astronaut scientist to walk on the Moon – geologist Harrison ‘Jack’ Schmitt
Pre-game Activities
- Lunar Lander Activity (STEM classes) Available in Spanish
- Fans could be invited to compete in a contest at the ballpark, with points given for hitting the target, landing upright, or size of bounce
- Race to the Moon (Social Studies)
- Register your event as part of the Apollo 50th Celebrations happening all around the country this summer.
Concourse activities
In-game activities
- Planet/Moon Trivia (PDF)
- Moon trivia from Marvel Moon activity
- Apollo Trivia
- Water Bottle Rockets Safety note: wear safety goggles
- Request a NASA astronaut, speaker, or traveling NASA exhibit to be at your event
- ISS Sightings over your stadium! Get a list of upcoming space station sighting opportunities for your location.
- Apollo 11 traverse superimposed on a baseball diamond
- Have a race/obstacle course between innings or before or after the game
Lunar Lander activity
- Fans could be invited to compete in a contest at the ballpark, with points given for hitting the target, landing upright, or size of bounce
Giveaways
- Printable Handouts
- Educational documents to learn more about Apollo and the Moon
- For specialty jerseys and advertising, it is important that you understand the rules about using the NASA meatball logo.
- NASA 3D print files
Post-game activities
- Exploring the Moon Educator Guide
- Teams could print for parents and educators to continue the discussion with their kids.
- Telescope Viewing after the game. We suggest pairing with local astronomy clubs or departments to help facilitate. You can see what phase the Moon will be in on the date of your event.
A great activity is to invite the local scientists to share their science with your fans to the park. Some scientists may want to bring their own activities or props to share. If you need help finding local scientists to attend your event, check our suggestions of where to look below.
Videos and Images
President Kennedy’s speech at RICE university
Collection of video from the Scientific Visualization Studio
"We Are NASA" Video
Apollo landing sites and images from LRO’s cameras
Space Stem Forum
NASA is frequently coming out with new visualizations to convey the discoveries made on the Earth and beyond!
LRO SVS Visualizations
"Moonlight (Clair de Lune)"
Sharper Views of Apollo 12, 14, and 17 Sites
Additional Image Gallery Resources
Places to look for in-person help
- The Solar System Ambassadors is a program that works with motivated volunteers around the country to share the lastest science and discoveries of NASA’s space exploration missions by inspiring their community at local events. (Check a database of local Solar System Ambassadors in your area)
- The NASA Museum Alliance is a group of informal educators that is designed to help you navigate, find, or even create what you need to teach audiences about STEAM topics. (Check a map of local NASA Museum Alliance members.)
- The Night Sky Network connects local astronomy clubs with those interested in hosting events to bring the wonders of the universe to the public.
- For additional in-person help, we suggest reaching out to your local university astronomy departments or clubs. Typically, university clubs are enthusiastic about public engagement and able to talk about current and cutting edge science happening in their fields.
