Children view educational displays during Kennedy Space Center's Family Night at the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in Florida.

Children view educational displays during Kennedy Space Center’s Family Night, Sept. 10, at the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in Florida.

NASA and the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex hosted the annual NASA family education night. The event, for fifth- through eighth-grade students and their parents, focuses on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education activities that included astronaut appearances, a hovercraft, vortex cannon and alternative fuel vehicles. The back-to-school event is part of NASA’s Summer of Innovation initiative to provide interactive learning experiences to middle school students nationwide. Photo credit: NASA/Amanda Diller