Exploration at Exposition Park
OASIS Celebrates "Magnificent Desolation"

By Steve Bartlett

The last human beings touched the surface of the Moon more than thirty years ago. But starting in late September, adults and children of all ages have been jaunting on that dusty world with the new IMAX film "Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon." (Read Jeff Hamilton's review of the movie.) OASIS joined in celebrating the nationwide opening of this film at the California Science Center's IMAX theater on September 24.

OASIS table at the event. Photo courtesy Seth Potter.

The film, produced by National Space Society's (NSS) Board of Governors member Tom Hanks, merges NASA archival footage of the Apollo lunar missions with computer-generated imagery to create a 3D immersive experience, where viewers feel like they're trekking along at one-sixth of Earth's gravity. The local NSS members met with hundreds of moviegoers at the Science Center's pavilion in Exposition Park to talk about the movie, space and science education, and the future of lunar and Mars missions.

The OASIS group gave away a large number of posters, space-related toys, bumper stickers, pins, and space education literature showing the excitement and adventure of the cosmos. The chapter's "Space on the Web" flyers were popular with kids, parents, and educators, giving them valuable resources to learn about the Universe.

Children enjoyed running the chapter's 1/10th-scale, radio-controlled Mars Exploration Rover model around the pavilion at the entrance of the Science Center. The rugged little robot survived many falls, spills, and near misses as the young people raced it along at speeds far higher than its real-life counterparts.

The day of the event turned out to be a busy day at Exposition Park. The movie's opening weekend coincided with multiple conferences, a concert, a charity benefit race, and other events. Over the course of the day, the NSS crew battled with high winds that threatened to blow all of the materials off the display table, as well as a "passel of pigeons" that made "bombing runs" on the volunteers.

Steve Bartlett overseeing the use of the Mars Rover model. Photo courtesy Seth Potter.

Table volunteers included Karin and Craig Ward, Lisa Kaspin, Seth Potter, Diane Rhodes, David Bliss, Tina Beychok, and Steve Bartlett. The space activists staffed the location from the first showing of the film in the early morning until the last screening let out in the late afternoon. The majority of these people viewed the film as a group at the 11:30 am showing.

The Science Center and IMAX theater personnel were especially helpful in assisting the OASIS people with the information table. The chapter expresses its great appreciation for their efforts, particularly those of IMAX theater personnel Joe DeAmecis and Grace Chi.

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