The nation’s capital had an alien invasion of sorts on Thursday. A giant inflatable Mars balloon caused a bit of a scene in Washington, D.C., when it broke loose from its display area outside the Kennedy Center and started rolling toward a nearby highway. The balloon, which stands about 30 feet tall, is part of the Kennedy Center’s outdoor art exhibit called “Celestial Bodies: Earth, Moon, Mars.” The exhibit includes large, light-up models of the three planets and was set up for people to enjoy, take photos with, and learn about space.
And run from. The Mars balloon slipped free from its tethers on Thursday evening and was spotted bouncing and rolling across the plaza before heading toward the road. Luckily, no one was hurt, and the runaway balloon was safely wrangled and brought back to its spot. Staff at the Kennedy Center say they're double-checking the anchors to make sure it doesn’t take off again. The exhibit is still open and will run through April 15.
Source: NBC Washington