Rice University to accept Kennedy award and moon rock from NASA

FROM RICE NEWS STAFF REPORTS

	Johnson Space Center Director Mike Coats will present President David Leebron with a moon rock and the Ambassador of Exploration Award that was presented posthumously to President John F. Kennedy this summer.

At halftime during the Rice-Navy football game Oct. 10, Johnson Space Center Director Mike Coats will present President David Leebron with a moon rock and the Ambassador of Exploration Award that was presented posthumously to President John F. Kennedy this summer.

On July 20, the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing on the moon, NASA honored President John F. Kennedy with the award for his vision and leadership in landing a man on the moon. The Kennedy family has selected Rice University to house and publicly display the award at Fondren Library. Kennedy called for a national initiative to go to the moon during a speech given at Rice University Sept. 12, 1962.

Fans attending the game can see and touch a moon rock and learn about the space shuttle, International Space Station and future exploration programs by visiting NASA’s ”Driven to Explore” exhibit. The exhibit will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the stadium’s Tailgate Owley outside Rice Stadium Gate 3. Astronauts Georga Zamka, a graduate of the Naval Academy, and Danny Olivas, a graduate of Rice, will sign autographs from 1 to 2 p.m. The NASA exhibit, Tailgate Owley and game-day parking are all free to the public.