Mars and Asteroids to Light Up Downtown Tucson

TUCSON, Ariz., Oct. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- CenturyLink presents Mars and Beyond: The search for life on other planets will light up downtown Tucson beginning October 22, 2011. It is the first offering of Science Downtown, a nonprofit organization that has taken up residence in The Rialto Block exhibition hall. Science Downtown is dedicated to offering rotating science-based programs to Tucson and all of Arizona. Where once Tucsonans marveled at "Bodies," "Titanic" and "King Tut" exhibits, they now can learn about our solar system's planets and asteroids, and next steps planned for space exploration. This first exhibition, CenturyLink presents: "Mars and Beyond: The search for life on other planets," is an exhibition by the University of Arizona's College of Science and will run for several months.

"This is very exciting for UA Science," said Joaquin Ruiz, Dean of the College of Science. "To share our space exploration programs with the community and to be able to contribute to downtown's surging revitalization is indeed an honor. Many of us will be on hand at Science Downtown regularly to help present our incredible journey to space. We want to especially thank Don Martin, Chairman of Science Downtown, Fletcher McCusker, Chairman and CEO of Providence Service Corp., and Kevin Madden, CEO of Madden Media, for making this exhibition happen. We also want to sincerely express our gratitude to the partners who helped underwrite the event."

The UA College of Science has been a significant contributor to our nation's space program and was the first university to lead a mission to another planet. UA scientists developed the Phoenix Lander model, which landed on Mars; the HiRISE, an instrument on the MRO mission, which orbits Mars and maps its surface. UA scientists will also manage the OSIRIS-REx mission to a distant asteroid and back.

The College of Science has an extensive trove of museum quality content, including the substitute Mars Lander, that will be on display.

"Past science exhibits had very successful runs in Tucson and convinced us that Science Downtown could be a permanent exhibit hall," said Don Martin, Chairman of Science Downtown and co-owner of the historic Rialto Block with the exception of the Rialto Theatre. "We are excited to partner with UA Science for this once in a lifetime experience." Partners include CenturyLink, Providence Service Corp., The Jim Click Automotive Team, Madden Media and Competitive Engineering, Inc.

Advance ticket sales available online for extra value from today until Grand Opening, October 22. www.sciencedowntown.org

SOURCE Science Downtown