Tigers Host Space Day This Thursday at Comerica Park

DETROIT- Prior to Thursday's game vs. the Houston Astros at 1:08 p.m., over 1,900 students from local schools will participate in Space Day, the fourth installment of the Tigers' annual "Class Outside Series." Students attending will learn about space and how it relates to Michigan. The pre-game program will feature an interactive presentation by the Michigan Science Center and special guests Dr. Susan Lepri, PhD, and Dr. Justin Kasper, PhD, Associate Professors, Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Space Sciences at The University of Michigan. Dr. Lepri and Dr. Kasper will speak about upcoming missions to launch solar orbiters in an effort to learn more about the sun.

The Michigan Science Center (MiSci) is a unique, fun and dynamic hands-on museum, offering programs that inspire children and their families to discover, explore and appreciate science, technology and math in a fun, dynamic learning environment. Through an interactive approach to science with engaging, hands-on exhibits, shows and activities, MiSci strives to help launch the next generation of Michigan's engineers, scientists and innovators, and significantly impact the cultural and economic renewal of Detroit and Michigan.

Dr. Lepri leads a team of scientists and engineers at the University of Michigan in the development of portions of the Heavy Ion Sensor (HIS) which will be launched onboard the European Space Agency's Solar Orbiter mission in 2017.

Dr. Kasper currently leads the SWEAP Investigation, an international team of scientists and engineers building sensors that will collect samples of the Sun for the NASA Solar Probe Plus spacecraft, a mission of exploration that will make history in 2018 as the first human-made object to plunge into the solar corona.

The Space Day presentation is designed for elementary and middle school students. Tickets for Space Day are still available for purchase and include early entry into Comerica Park for Thursday's educational event. Comerica Park Gate D will open at 10:00 a.m. and will close at 10:40 a.m. and the workshop will start promptly at 10:45 a.m. and last until 11:30 a.m. To purchase a ticket for Space Day, please go to tigers.com/classoutside.

--TIGERS--