The much-anticipated 2024 total eclipse is fast approaching, and NASA’s planned live broadcast of the celestial event will be hosted from none other than the city of Russellville. A team of NASA experts from the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama also met with elected officials and industry leaders in a presentation late last month to discuss educational outreach opportunities.
“Having NASA involved elevates the importance of this eclipse and amplifies the excitement for our community,” said Russellville Mayor Fred Teague. “We are thankful for the rich discussions and insight provided by NASA, and we look forward to hosting them again during the April eclipse.”
Due to the length of the eclipse totality in Russellville, NASA is planning to host part of the agency’s live television broadcast from the city, as well as conduct several scientific presentations and public outreach events for visitors, which are expected to number more than 100,000. Additional factors for selecting Russellville included access to a large university, and proximity to Little Rock to engage media outlets and key stakeholders representing industry and academia.
The day-long Oct. 30 visit helped NASA learn how the city is preparing for the massive influx of tourists and news media personnel, and how it began planning more than a year in advance.
“Months ago, we created our solar eclipse outreach committee, consisting of key stakeholders and thought leaders from across the city,” said Christie Graham, director of Russellville Tourism. “We’ve developed advanced communication and emergency management plans which will maximize our city’s resources and ensure everyone has a safe and memorable viewing experience.”
This visit also provided NASA with an opportunity to share important heliophysics messaging with the public, including the next generation of scientists, engineers and explorers. To learn how best to interact with local students, NASA team members met with the Russellville School District Superintendent Ginni McDonald and Arkansas Tech University Acting Interim President Russell Jones.
“Leveraging the eclipse to provide quality learning opportunities will be a valuable and unforgettable experience for all,” said McDonald. “Our staff enjoyed discussing best strategies and look forward to sharing NASA educational content with our students.”
The team also discussed internship opportunities for students to work at NASA centers across the nation, as well as how to get involved in NASA’s Artemis student challenges – sophisticated engineering design challenges available for middle school, high school, college and university students.
“Our university serves nearly 10,000 students, many pursuing a variety of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) degrees, including mechanical and electrical engineering, biological and computer sciences, nursing and more,” Jones said.
The April eclipse is part of the Heliophysics Big Year, a global celebration of solar science and the Sun’s influence on Earth and the entire solar system. Everyone is encouraged to participate in solar science events such as watching solar eclipses, experiencing an aurora, participating in citizen science projects, and other fun Sun-related activities.
“It was a refreshing reminder of the public’s excitement for the science we conduct at NASA,” said Adam Kobelski, a solar astrophysicist at Marshall. “This experience established my overall confidence in their readiness to successfully host a quality viewing experience for everyone.”
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