DOWNEY - The new Columbia Memorial Space Center will begin hosting open house sessions for local school teachers.Teachers will have the opportunity to learn about the center's interactive exhibits, programs, labs, field trips and tour the Challenger Learning Center for simulated space missions. The first open house is scheduled for Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. Other open house dates are Feb. 27 (1 to 5 p.m.), March 25 (4 to 8 p.m.), March 27 (1 to 5 p.m.), April 22 (4 to 8 p.m.) and April 24 (1 to 5 p.m.). The space center opened last October. It features a robotics lab, high-definition computer lab and a wide array of interactive exhibits that provide insights into Space Shuttle operations, living and working on the International Space Station, exploration of our solar system and aerospace engineering. The center also explores careers related to human and robotic space exploration. The space center is located at 12400 Columbia Way (formerly Clark Avenue) in Downey. It is open to the public Thursday through Sunday, 12 to 6 p.m., with special hours available for school groups. Admission is $5 per person. Children ages 3 and younger are free. Teachers interested in attending an open house should contact Christie Pearce at cpearce@downeyca.org or (562) 231-1200. More information on the center is available at www.columbiaspacescience.org.

********** Published: February 19, 2010 - Volume 8 - Issue 44