NASA is taking the "America 250" birthday celebration to new heights.
The agency has big plans for July 4 — the 250th anniversary of the ratification of the Declaration of Independence — which involves both aircraft and spacecraft.
"From the earliest days of exploration, to the first steps on the moon and the missions shaping our future, NASA represents the spirit of discovery that defines our nation," the agency wrote on a webpage marking the milestone anniversary.
The party was already underway in April, when the Artemis 2 mission circled the moon. The four Artemis 2 astronauts — three from NASA and one from the Canadian Space Agency — sported "America 250" patches among their gear.
The patch shows NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket launching into the black, near a "250" surrounded by stars. Around the edges of the patch are the words "NASA: The rocket's red glare," alluding to the U.S. national anthem.
Another version of the America 250 emblem, prominently featuring the numbers in red and blue, also was mounted on each of the solid rocket boosters of Artemis 2's SLS.
There's a lot more planned in the coming weeks to ramp up to Independence Day and beyond. NASA said it will have a "series of special aircraft flyovers" at the following locations and times:
- July 3-5: The Great American State Fair, Washington, D.C.
- July 4: Salute to America: The Nation's 250th Birthday Fireworks Celebration, Washington, D.C.
- July 23-24: EAA AirVenture, Oshkosh, Wisconsin
- Aug. 23: Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C.
- Oct. 3-4: Pacific Air Show, Huntington Beach, California
- Oct. 31-Nov. 1: Commemorative Air Force Wings Over Houston Air Show
The agency also plans to make a special appearance at the Great American State Fair on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., between June 25 and July 10. NASA will host a pavilion featuring Artemis, a model of its planned Moon Base and a crew survival suit for the Orion spacecraft.
Other pavilion exhibits include "authentic spacesuit tools, immersive pop-up visuals, the X-59 experimental aircraft model, interactive tabletop demonstrations, astronaut food, and life-size astronaut cutouts for photos," NASA officials stated.
NASA has also celebrated America 250 by displaying the event logo on the countdown clock at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the Artemis 2 launch site, and lighting up the Washington Monument with an SLS rocket projection around New Year's Eve.
Meanwhile, NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is offering a "250 Space Dreams" contest between July 1 and Aug. 2. The Space Coast facility will randomly select visitors to receive an envelope with a certificate and QR code inside.
Prizes will vary, but winners could receive NASA merch, spots on a bus tour, a free ticket to an astronaut chat, or grand prizes for things such as signed astronaut gear or $250 for on-site souvenirs.
