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News release

The Canadian Space Agency celebrates its 20th anniversary by unveiling
an Out-Of-This-World Space Exhibit

Longueuil, Quebec, May 14, 2010 - Today, Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Julie Payette, surrounded by over 150 students from the Marie-Victorin School Board, officially opened the Cosmomania exhibit. On the occasion of its 20th anniversary, the CSA has mounted this out-of-this-world space exhibit recollecting over 50 years of space exploration history. Canadians students and families are invited to come visit, free admission for all, the newly installed exhibit on display at the CSA's John H. Chapman Centre in Longueuil, Quebec, from May 15th to August 15th, 2010.

"20 years ago, the need for a centralized place where Canadians would work on Canadian space projects together was expressed; the Canadian Space Agency was then formed," said CSA astronaut Julie Payette. "In addition to promoting excellence, innovation and science and technology development, the Agency strongly believes in fostering initiatives to increase awareness of the Canadian Space Program to ensure Canadians from all regions learn and benefit from our space realisations and international relations. What better way to demonstrate our space history and accomplishments then by showcasing this unique space exhibit."

Cosmomania, designed by la Cité de l'espace in Toulouse, France, takes visitors back in time and goes through 50 years of space exploration. The exhibit highlights five major moments in space history: the first human to travel to outer space (in 1961), the first man to walk on the moon (in 1969), the first launch of an Ariane rocket (in 1979), the first internet retransmission of an image of the Martian surface (in 1997) and the first flight of a Taikonaut (in 2003). Cosmomania concludes with a Mars Base for 2057 where visitors can experience the life of an astronaut on a mission on Mars in the future. Canadian space milestones are also reflected in the exhibit with models of the Alouette satellite, the robotic arm Canadarm, the Radarsat-2 satellite, the robot Dextre, the lander Phoenix as well as a replica of the lunar leg designed by Héroux-Devtek in Longueuil, Quebec, of the Lunar Module (LEM) during the very first Apollo mission in 1969.

Cosmomania opening hours:

General Public:
From May 15th until June 23rd: Saturday and Sunday, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
From June 24th until August 15th: Wednesday to Sunday, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

School groups and summer camps:
From May 15th until August 15rd: Wednesday to Friday, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Reservations are required for school groups and summer camps (450-926-6414).

For two years the Cosmomania exhibit will be offered to Canadian museums and science centres across the nation. After its visit at the CSA, the exhibit will be on display at the Discovery Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Contact the CSA for further information via email at: expositions@asc-csa.gc.ca.

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For more information:
Canadian Space Agency
Media Relations Office
Tel.: (450) 926-4370
www.asc-csa.gc.ca