Space & Rocket Center celebrates Pathfinder display at special Biergarten Under the Shuttle

HUNTSVILLE – The ever-popular Biergarten at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center is taking it outside.

And, instead of playing in the shadow of the Saturn V, the oompa-pa will be in the shadow of the space shuttle Pathfinder.

The Space & Rocket Center invites the community to celebrate the return of the iconic shuttle orbiter with a special Biergarten Under the Shuttle Thursday from 5-7:30 p.m.

Dr. Kimberly Robinson, CEO and executive director of the Rocket Center; Huntsville native Dr. Jan Davis, a three-time space shuttle astronaut; and others will make remarks at the event in Shuttle Park.

The event also features music from the Twickenham Jazz & Swing Band along with the full Biergarten menu of German food and beverages for purchase.

The Pathfinder shuttle stack was erected at the Rocket Center in 1988. Developed by the Marshall Space Flight Center, Pathfinder was originally used as a heavy-lift article to test handling, transportation and other procedures for the Space Transportation System, best known as the space shuttle.

Pathfinder is a name NASA gives to articles used to test infrastructure and logistics for its programs.

After more than 30 years of exposure to the elements, the Rocket Center removed the orbiter for extensive restoration in 2021. The orbiter was lifted back into place in September for final cosmetic touches.

The Pathfinder shuttle stack includes:

• Pathfinder orbiter
• External Tank Series No. 1, also known as Main Propulsion Test Article External Tank
• A pair of prototype solid rocket boosters
• Three space shuttle main engines, including two that flew on space shuttle missions and one that was used for testing.

There is no admission charge for the Pathfinder celebration and guests may visit the newly completed Rocket Park, which includes Rocket Row with five historic rockets, the engine section of the SLS core stage pathfinder and an amphitheater.

Rocket Park will also include the Marshall Retirees Association’s Space Exploration Wall of Honor, which will include the names of more than 21,000 employees of the Marshall Space Flight Center recognizing their role in Huntsville space exploration.