Weighing in at 1,982 pounds, Curiosity was launched on November 26, 2011. Curiosity is expected to make a precision landing near the base of Mount Sharp inside Gale Crater at 12:31 am Earth-received time after a 254 day journey. During the 2-year mission, objectives include assessing whether the landing area has offered conditions favorable for life.

Doors open at 11:30 pm, and the event will be held upstairs in our Discovery Room. Free and open to the public.

The world’s fastest spy plane, one of which is on display at the Kansas Cosmosphere & Space Center, will come to life through the stories of those who flew, maintained and designed the aircraft. On August 24-26, 2012, meet & greet the crew under the Blackbird, listen to stories of how this plane watched over the skies, take in a SR-71 blackbird documentary, grab breakfast in an aircraft hangar, and partake in other aviation related activities. Pilots can fly into the local KHUT airport and enjoy a free shuttle to the Cosmosphere. Buz Carpenter, legendary SR-71 pilot and local Hutchinson KS aviator, Karen Anderson will Co-Chair the SR-71 event.

For more information, contact Katie Gillmore, katieg@cosmo.org, 620.665.9326, or Dianne Blick, dianneb@cosmo.org, 620.665.9339.

Check us out on Facebook at facebook.com/kscosmosphere. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbcPH7Jx-jQ

Sponsored by: The Trust Company of Kansas • Kansas Aviation Museum • Wells Aircraft • Cirrus Aircraft • Airport Steakhouse • Midwest Superstore • Kansas Air National Guard • Radio Kansas

Double your fly-in & BBQ fun: check out McPherson’s “When Pigs Fly” on Aug 24 & 25. mcphersonchamber.org/when-pigs-fly

We will have special extended hours on Saturday, August 25 of 8:00 am - 8:00 pm, and on Sunday, August 26 of 11 am - 6 pm, for our event, Operation Blackbird SR-71 Spytacular.

We will be open extended hours on Sunday, August 26 from 11 am - 6 pm for the last day of our Operation Blackbird event.