Cover image: Provided by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center

Despite the 103-degree heat index, thousands of people made their way to Huntsville’s Big Spring International Park this past Saturday for NASA in the Park.

Presented by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, the popular event has been on hiatus since 2018. That was the year NASA celebrated its 60th anniversary.

Some would say it was worth the wait. This past Saturday, over 80 exhibits led by NASA experts featured hands-on demonstrations of space science and technology.

The exhibits were designed with young people in mind. Everything from coloring activities and temporary tattoos to hands-on science experiments and technology demonstrations were geared toward educating all age levels.

Visitors could fill out postcards to space, pick up free STEM science kits, blast off baking soda and vinegar rockets, test out rover imaging tools and so much more.

Parents were overwhelmingly pleased with the quality and variety of kid-friendly activities and said they looked forward to coming back next year.

Adults of all ages had fun too. Many of the attendees had donned their favorite NASA and Artemis attire in honor of the event.

The major Cummings Research Park companies offering contract support to NASA were also on hand along with area colleges.

Visitors could choose from dozens of food truck vendors, and the local rock band 5×5 provided live entertainment.

Marshall Center Director Joseph Pelfrey and Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle officially kicked off the event.

“This is an exciting day for us to come out and share all the things we are doing, to engage with the community, and to inspire the next generation,” said Pelfrey.

“To be part of team Marshall is to be part of the group that helps with that soul of exploration as we take man back to the moon and we take man to Mars and then we do even more exploration,” said Mayor Battle.

“Each of these tents are part of the pieces of that soul of exploration,” said Mayor Battle, referring to the hands-on demonstration and science activity exhibits set up throughout Big Spring Park.

Downtown Huntsville, Inc. partnered with Marshall Space Flight Center to make the event happen.

“Our mission is to create a vibrant, diverse, economically sustainable downtown. Events like today bring us a long way in helping us work toward that mission,” said Downtown Huntsville Inc. president and CEO Rob Buddo.

In addition to events like Saturday’s, NASA provides a number of free ongoing opportunities for STEM engagement. For more information and resources, check out stem.nasa.gov.