To most people, the words Tucson and space exploration don't necessarily go together.  Nevertheless, the University of Arizona and Tucson have a rich history of contribution to NASA and the field of space exploration that dates to the 1960s.  
                                                      
                                                      (NASA Artist Rendering)

Memorial Weekend, the Phoenix Mars Mission is scheduled to land on the surface of The Red Planet and Tucson will be celebrating the first public university-led mission in NASA history.

The parties start 7 PM Saturday, May 24 at the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort with a Mars In Tucson Party, hosted by Phoenix Mars Mission Specialists.

A landing celebration on campus is open to the public as well, on Sunday, May 25, from 3pm to 8pm.  The party will be held in 3 locations at once with live feeds from the lander, educational exhibits and much more: 

• Kuiper Space Sciences Building
• Sonett Space Sciences Building
• Flandrau: The UA Science Center

Children of all ages are encouraged to attend this historic event.  Phoenix Mars Mission/U of A Page