Mars library to host missile launch party
MARS — Officials with the borough and the public library are hoping an event planned for Saturday will be a real “blast.”
The Mars Public Library will host a family oriented event coinciding with the launch of NASA’s next rocket to the planet Mars. That rocket, named InSight, is a robotic lander designed to study the planet remotely. It is scheduled to launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 4 a.m. local time.
The library event is scheduled for 7 a.m., with organizers hoping to watch the launch live, if all goes according to plan.
According to Mars Mayor Gregg Hartung, the launch will be replayed throughout the morning while participants do activities aimed at Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) education. The focus of those activities will be on air and space travel, as well as the planet Mars.
“We are collaborating with the library and other entities in the Mars area as we continue to move forward with STEAM education becoming a hallmark for the community,” Hartung said.
Displays and materials provided by NASA also will be on hand, and light refreshments will be served. Registration, while not required, is requested and available by contacting the library at 724-625-9048 or emailing cboland@marslibary.org.
The event is a part of a collaboration effort between the borough and NASA, which has been ongoing as part of the Mars New Year celebration. Held every 22 months, the next celebration is scheduled March 21, 2019, with other events planned in the interim.
Also planned is the Mars Brew Fest, scheduled for 6 to 9 p.m. June 16 in downtown Mars. As the borough is no longer a dry town, the celebration will be the first of its kind, with 12 breweries and a winery signed up and more anticipated. Several food trucks are also expected and live music will be offered throughout the event. More information is expected to be released in the coming weeks.
