NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Rachel Wofford and husband Dan watch a demonstration of the properties of ordinary earth materials when exposed to the vacuum and coldness of space.

View Larger The purpose of the Share Fair is to publicize the benefits of learning science to the general public and inspire them to pursue family oriented science activities. Activities such as the bat talk at The Asombro Institute for Science Education (formerly the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park in Las Cruces, NM) is one way that science is presented. Another is attending a moon-gazing night at the International Delights. Additionally, the Share Fair encourages children to pursue science-related education tracks in school such as the engineering magnet at Lynn Middle School.

NASA White Sands Test Facility (WSTF) employees George Aldrich, Don Henderson, Grant Dyer, and Sonja Wood participated in the 12th Annual Science Education Alliance (SEA) Share Fair at Mesilla Valley Mall. WSTF employees have been consistent participants in the annual event where local businesses and educators share science education within the community. The Las Cruces Museum of Natural History co-sponsors the event. There were 18 organizations with exhibits and about 1000 visitors participated in the event. Other exhibitors came from NMSU, DACC, Museum of Space History, ASLC, MESA, SEMAA, and Las Cruces Public Schools.

Grant Dyer and Don Henderson share the physics of hypervelocity debris.

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NASA White Sands Test Facility’s science demos show how ordinary materials placed in Liquid Nitrogen (LN2) will change properties, balloons will shrink, rubber balls and flowers shatter, and bananas can be used to drive nails into wood. Liquid nitrogen boils at −196 °C (−321 °F) and is a cryogenic fluid which mimics certain space temperatures. Cheerie R. Patneaude
NASA JSC White Sands Test Facility
cheerie.r.patneaude@nasa.gov