NASA's SOFIA Open Day July 20- free tickets avail 14 June 10am

Aaron Campbell from Aaron Campbell - Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood Board

The info is from the Eventbrite page- link below
- be careful, this will probably be popular and there looks to be plenty of strict conditions of entry-

"NASA's aircraft SOFIA (Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy) is in Christchurch and is offering you one chance to tour., between 11am and 3pm on Saturday July 20. The last boarding time is 2:30pm.
In order to register for a ticket, you will need to provide the below information:
• Full Name as it appears on your photo ID
• Address
• NZ Driver Licence number, and expiration or Passport country, number, expiration
Please note that the below restrictions for access apply:
• SOFIA is a working science laboratory and is not accessible to people with disabilities. All guests must be ambulatory, able to walk one-quarter mile, and ascend and descend 25 stairs unaided.
• The observatory is not suitable for young children. Guests must be 10 years or older.
• All guests, including minors (10-18 years of age), must present a ticket to board observatory (confirms their information has been checked).
• All attendees must have photo ID, other than minors who must be accompanied by a responsible adult with photo ID.
• Guests will be escorted across an active aircraft ramp and must stay together, walking as a group.
• Guests should dress for the weather.
• All guests are subject to search.
• No bags, no backpacks, no large purses, no large camera bags.
• No open-toed shoes, no high heels.
• Pockets as empty as possible. If anything is dropped it must be picked up.
• No smoking of any kind. No electronic cigarettes allowed.
• This is a working observatory and guests are asked not to touch keyboards, monitors, or other mission equipment.
• Do not remove anything from the aircraft.
• Due to access restrictions we are unable to allow any wheelchairs, walkers, strollers or infants in carry harnesses.
Each ticket must be registered to a person’s name. Please enter a passport or driver licence for each person. This will be checked off against the ID shown on the day at registration. If the attendee is a minor then you can enter N/A into that field.
The only items you are able to bring with you are:
• Car Key
• Photo ID
• Camera or Phone
• Closed toe shoes and no high heels
• NO BAGS ARE PERMITTED
On arrival please proceed to the registration tent. Here you will be given a wristband for your viewing time and a briefing card once you have shown your ticket and matching ID. You will then proceed to security screening area. All loose items will be placed in trays on trestle tables which you can collect after you have been scanned with a metal detector wand. Please ensure you arrive with enough time to complete these formalities.
Please note you will enter the left forward doors and exit the right forward door. There are many people who want to enjoy this experience, so in fairness to everyone, please adhere to the timeframes on your ticket and keep things moving through the aircraft. This is a self-guided tour and any questions can be answered inside the hangar once you are off the aircraft."