Partnerships

Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO)

Adler is an Education and Public Outreach partner for NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) mission. In that capacity, Adler has built a large moonwall as a part of the Shoot For the Moon exhibition. The wall uses 12 HDTV monitors and powerful computer system to allow visitors to fly over a 3D model of the Moon using the best image and height data available. The Moonwall system is built using off-the-shelf hardware and free software, which allows replication at other museums. It is also scalable so another version would not need to be as large or complex as Adler's.

In addition to the Moonwall exhibit, Adler has created several teacher kits on the Moon that can be checked out for use in classrooms. The target age range is middle school, but many of the activities can be used grade levels above and below middle school. The kit comes with three weeks of activities, but teachers can pick and choose to meet their classroom needs. There are also opportunities for professional development on how to use the kits in the classroom as well.

Learn more about the LRO on our NASA Partnerships page.

NASA Science E/PO Forums

NASA has funded four new Science Education and Public Outreach Forums (SEPOFs) to increase the overall coherence of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD) Education and Public Outreach (E/PO) program. SEPOFs support the astrophysics, heliophysics, planetary and Earth science divisions of NASA SMD in the areas of E/PO Community Engagement and Development, E/PO Product and Project Activity Analysis, and SEPOF Coordination Committee Service. The Adler Planetarium is a member of two of these new forums – Heliophysics and Astrophysics.

The overall goal for the SEPOFs is increased awareness, knowledge, and understanding of stakeholders in the areas of best practices, existing NASA resources, and community expertise applicable to E/PO. By coordinating and supporting the NASA E/PO Community, the NASA/SEPOF partnerships will lead to more effective, sustainable, and efficient utilization of NASA science discoveries and learning experiences.

For more information about NASA’s Science Mission Directorate efforts, check out NASA Science. To learn more about NASA Science E/PO Forums visit the SMD E/PO Community website.

Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX)

IBEX is a NASA-funded Small Explorer satellite mission that orbits Earth and maps the boundary of the Solar System. The Adler Planetarium is the lead Education and Public Outreach institution for the IBEX mission.

Learn more about the mission and our educational products and programs on the IBEX website.

Follow IBEX on Twitter.
Learn more about IBEX on NASA’s website.
Watch an overview IBEX video on YouTube.
Become a fan of IBEX on Facebook.