Determined To Fly

Join us as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first spacecraft to successfully land on Mars: Viking 1.

On July 20, 1976, this historic lander touched down on the Red Planet and began its mission to search for signs of life. Built in Denver by Martin Marietta, it represented a triumph of space exploration both nationally and locally.

At this special Speakers Panel, you’ll hear from Lockheed Martin experts and participate in science demos! Speakers include*:

• Ben Clark, former Chief Scientist, Lockheed Martin Space
• Jim Crocker, Vice President and General Manager, Lockheed Martin Civil Space, Retired
• Dave Gingerich, Mission Operations Engineer for Deep Space Exploration, Lockheed Martin Space
• Richard Warwick, Senior Manager for Advanced Planetary Group, Lockheed Martin Space
• Moderated by: Leonard David, Space Journalist and author of the National Geographic book Mars: Our Future on the Red Planet

Join us for science activities for all ages that will take place between 10:00 am – 2:00 pm, including:

• Take a Mars “Soil” Sample
• General Relativity Demonstration
• Vacuum Chamber Demonstration
• The Difference in Weight on Mars, Moon, and the Earth

As we continue to explore the Red Planet, there is still so much to learn. Trust us, you don’t want to miss this!

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*Speakers and demos are subject to change.

Photo credit: NASA, Druyan-Sagan Associates, Inc.

Enjoy a hands-on day exploring the exciting world of biomimicry through interactive activities all about wings!

But what exactly is biomimicry? This practice helps solve human challenges by drawing inspiration from nature’s time-tested designs. Studying how organisms have adapted over billions of years allows engineers and scientists to create more efficient aircraft, stronger materials, smarter technologies, and sustainable systems inspired by the biological world.

At this special STEAM Day, you’ll get a unique opportunity to learn more about this subject and the fun and function of flight! This event will teach you*:

• How the natural world flies and what we learn from it when building aircraft
• Activities and bug displays courtesy of the Butterfly Pavilion
• Meet real birds of prey and participate in activities courtesy of the Rocky Mountain Wildlife Alliance
• Use your new learnings to observe aircraft flying in and out of our tarmac

Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to explore the power of flight!

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Also, make sure to come hungry, because Colorado Coney Company has some tasty options!

*Weather permitting. Activities and participants are subject to change. Food is not included with admission.

WorldDenver is pleased to partner with Wings Over the Rockies for their inaugural New Frontiers Diplomacy Forum, presented by Lockheed Martin Space. The half-day event is open to the public and will bring together influential leaders across government, private, and academic sectors to promote the role of diplomacy and international cooperation in fueling progress in aerospace and space exploration.

Program Highlights Include:

• NASA’s Deputy Associate Administrator for International and Interagency Relations Meredith McKay on global cooperation in space and the path forward for Artemis and beyond.
• Top aerospace and technology executives exploring how public–private collaboration extends U.S. leadership in global markets.
• Leading government officials discussing policy frameworks for cross-border cooperation.
• Sessions connecting students and emerging professionals with industry and diplomatic leaders.
• Designed to spark new partnerships and amplify international collaboration.

This event is open to all! Please join us by purchasing a general admission ticket for July 28th.

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For visibility and brand recognition, please contact shannon@worlddenver.org for information on sponsorship opportunities.