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Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard meets Jon Betthauser the new executive director of the Columbia Memorial Space Science Learning Center

Washington, Mar 5 -

Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) meets Jon Betthauser (shown second on left), the new executive director of the Columbia Memorial Space Science Learning Center, which is scheduled to open in Downey later this year. Mr. Betthauser, who started the position in early March, previously served as a consultant to the city on the project.  He has worked on museum and exhibit centers for some 30 years.  Mr. Betthauser was joined by Downey Councilman Mario Guerra (District 2) (pictured left) and Mr. Desi Alvarez, Downey Deputy City Manager (pictured right).  The Downey officials provided the congresswoman with a construction update about the learning center, which will be completed in August. They also briefed her on their meetings while in Washington with NASA, Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, and National Science Foundation officials. The center is located at the site of the former NASA space shuttle manufacturing facility in Downey where key components of its space shuttle fleet, including the Columbia, were built. The center will inspire a new generation of space scientists and explorers through its programs, displays and interactive exhibits about the history and future of space exploration in the community, region and country. The center will also honor the memory of the Columbia Space Shuttle astronauts and pay tribute to the thousands of local residents who, for over seven decades, worked in the aviation and aerospace industry in Downey.  A longtime advocate of the learning center, the congresswoman authored the legislation to name the center as a memorial to the fallen astronauts and secured $1 million in federal funding toward the project. 

 

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