posted 06-24-2009 10:35 PM               

Date: Monday, July 20, 2009
Location: Knight TV Studio, Level 3
Time: 2 p.m.

On July 20, 1969, as he became the first human to walk on the moon, astronaut Neil Armstrong uttered the famous phrase, "That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Fellow astronaut Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin followed Armstrong onto the lunar surface before the two rejoined crew member Michael Collins.

The Apollo 11 mission — one of the world’s most significant achievements — had fulfilled President. Kennedy’s 1961 challenge to the nation: send an American safely to the moon before the end of the decade.

To commemorate the 40th anniversary of this historic flight, the Newseum will host a special program on the future of space discovery. The July 20 program is the only public event honoring Apollo 11’s anniversary and NASA’s ongoing exploration of space.

Veteran journalist Nick Clooney moderates a panel discussion with Aldrin, Alan Bean of Apollo 12, Charlie Duke of Apollo 16, John Grunsfeld, of the recent Hubble mission, and Goddard Space Flight Center deputy director Laurie Leshin.

The discussion will air on NASA TV and will be simulcast to science centers across the United States. A question-and-answer session will follow the program.

posted 06-24-2009 11:07 PM               

Fireworks will fly and tunes will fill the air at Houston's star-spangled Fourth of July celebration, Freedom Over Texas with Fireworks Presented by Shell. This year's event, saluting Houston's military heroes and honoring the 40th anniversary of NASA's Apollo XI Lunar Landing, will feature the largest land-based fireworks show in the nation, unbeatable entertainment and a lively outdoor festival. Admission is FREE. On Saturday, July 4, Clay Walker will ignite the stage and the concert will be followed by the largest land-based fireworks show in the nation, presented by Shell Oil Company and produced by the world-renowned fireworks artists from Pyro Spectaculars North by Souza. Both the concert and the fireworks will be televised live on KTRK-TV (ABC), Ch.13 from Eleanor Tinsley Park.

"I want to invite our fellow Texans to Houston's All - American Fourth of July celebration" said Mayor Bill White. "This year we salute Houston's Heroes. This includes the men and women serving our armed forces today and in years past. It also includes NASA's iconic space program on the 40th Anniversary of the historic Apollo XI Lunar Landing. Thanks to our Anchor Sponsors, the city is able to bring in an unbeatable headliner and a host of other entertainment. For the fourth year in a row, Shell is on board to underwrite a spectacular fireworks show, making Houston the number one Fourth of July destination in the country."

posted 06-25-2009 04:20 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by ilbasso:
Seeing that Charlie Duke will be at the Newseum event makes me wonder if he will make an unannounced appearance at the NASM lecture the prior evening.

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posted 06-26-2009 04:21 PM               

NASA Announces Apollo Anniversary Events, News Conference

NASA has announced a schedule of events to commemorate the achievements of the Apollo program and the 40th anniversary of the first lunar landing. Among the activities is a news conference with astronauts from several Apollo missions scheduled for 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. EDT, July 20, in the James Webb Auditorium at NASA Headquarters in Washington. NASA Headquarters is located at 300 E St., S.W.

A list of events to celebrate the Apollo legacy is located on NASA's website.

The STS-125 space shuttle crew, past and present astronauts, engineers, and other NASA employees will celebrate the historic Apollo lunar exploration missions with activities at locations around the country from July 1 to July 24. NASA Television will broadcast many of the events live or provide news feeds on its daily Video File.

Additional events may be added later. Some activities are by invitation only and others have limited media access. Please check back periodically for updates.

The July 20 news conference will be carried live on NASA TV and the agency's Internet homepage.

posted 07-12-2009 08:42 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by DChudwin:
Every 5 years on the anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing the President has had the crew for a visit at the White House.

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posted 07-12-2009 11:46 PM               

Moon 40 Book Signing
26th July, 15:30 - 16:00

Celebrate the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11 at MOSI with author Francis French. Drawing from first-hand interviews with the spacefarers, French will describe in vivid detail just how the first lunar landing crew was chosen against the backdrop of a tense and dynamic race to the moon between two combative superpowers.

Francis French is the co-author of Into That Silent Sea and In the Shadow of the Moon, which highlight the dramatic space events of
1961 - 1969. A book signing by French will follow the talk.

posted 07-14-2009 11:29 PM               

Among the featured speakers are collectSPACE members Michael Cassutt (co-author of "Deke! From Mercury to the Shuttle", and author of "Red Moon" and "Tango Midnight") and Rod Pyle (author of "Missions to the Moon").

posted 07-15-2009 06:18 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by tncmaxq:
Any other cS folks thinking of getting together in DC? Would be nice if some of us could meet.

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posted 07-15-2009 12:59 PM               

• Neil A. Armstrong, CDR
  
• Buzz Aldrin, LMP
  
• George W.S. Abbey
  
• Gerald D. Griffin
  
• Christopher C. Kraft, Jr.
  
• Eugene F. Kranz
  
• Glynn S. Lunney

posted 07-15-2009 06:27 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
The speaker line-up for Space Center Houston's Splashdown Celebration on July 24 has been announced...

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posted 07-15-2009 07:41 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by robsouth:
As everyone gets ready to celebrate 40 years since Apollo 11, I am lamenting the fact that today is the last day of my thirties!

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posted 07-16-2009 02:12 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by robsouth:
As everyone gets ready to celebrate 40 years since Apollo 11, I am lamenting the fact that today is the last day of my thirties!

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posted 07-16-2009 04:34 AM               

Schenectady Museum & Suits-Bueche Planetarium Offers FREE Celebrating America in Space Program July 17

The Schenectady Museum & Suits-Bueche Planetarium will offer a FREE program, Celebrating America in Space, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday, July 17, when visitors will see the regional unveiling of Past is Prologue: Celebrating 50 Years of America in Space, a painting of the history of United States space exploration by Timothy Alan Neil Gagnon; enjoy the new Lunar Odyssey Planetarium Show; and share memories about the 40th Anniversary of the Walk on the Moon.

At 5:30 p.m., visitors will see our new feature show, Lunar Odyssey, in the Suits-Bueche Planetarium. Let experts in lunar mythology, history, science, and astronomy take you on a guided tour of the awesome beauty and mysteries of Earth’s nearest neighbor in space, the Moon.

Visitors will also be encouraged to share their memories about the 40th Anniversary of the Walk on the Moon. Where were you when man first walked on the Moon in 1969? How old were you? Did you see it on television? Through reminiscing, visitors will commemorate this momentous scientific achievement.

Past is Prologue: Celebrating 50 Years of America in Space is a 24-by 48-inch acrylic on stretched canvas completed in 2008 by Timothy Alan Neil Gagnon, on loan from the private collection of Capital Region resident Kenneth M. Schwartz. The painting hung for a year in the United States Space Walk of Fame Museum in Titusville, Florida.

The painting attempts to capture the essence of the entire history of US space exploration on one canvas, beginning with the Soviet launch of Sputnik, which propelled the United States space exploration movement. US spacecraft and launch vehicles are represented in the painting, including Apollo, Gemini and the Space Shuttle. There are 16 portraits across the bottom of the painting, including first American in space Alan Shepherd, first American to orbit the Earth John Glenn, and African-American physician and NASA astronaut Mae Jemison.

Titusville, Florida resident Timothy Alan Neil Gagnon is a graphic and portrait artist with a life-long passion for space exploration. His work is on display at the Kennedy Space Center, the International Space Station, and City Hall in Elmira, New York.

Past is Prologue: Celebrating 50 Years of America in Space is the centerpiece of Celebrating America in Space, which also includes Apollo 14 blueprints, a Gemini Capsule model, and other space exploration artifacts that will be on display at the Schenectady Museum & Suits-Bueche Planetarium until October 15, 2009.

This event is part of a series of activities at the Schenectady Museum & Suits-Bueche Planetarium for the International Year of Astronomy, which marks the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s use of a telescope and the publication of Kepler’s Astronomia Nova.

The Schenectady Museum & Suits-Bueche Planetarium is located on Nott Terrace Heights in Schenectady. Admission to the Celebrating America in Space program on July 17 is FREE. For more information, please visit SchenectadyMuseum.org or call 518-382-7890.

About Schenectady Museum & Suits-Bueche Planetarium
Founded in 1934, the Schenectady Museum & Suits-Bueche Planetarium is a dynamic destination offering highly engaging interactives, where science is fun for everyone. In addition to the Suits-Bueche Planetarium, which has the only GOTO Star Projector in the entire Northeast, the Museum is the only science center in Tech Valley to offer the GE Photograph collection, with more than 1.6 million prints and negatives; an archival collection with more than 3,500 cubic feet of historic materials; and more than 40,000 objects relating to the history of science and technology. The Museum also offers the only FETCH! Lab in the entire Northeast, with hands-on activities patterned after the popular PBS show FETCH!, in collaboration with WMHT. During 2008, the Museum welcomed more than 44,000 visitors, including students, researchers, business leaders, tourists, and many others.

posted 07-16-2009 06:37 AM            

July 22, 2009, 7:00 p.m.
Thorne Auditorium
Northwestern University

Join former NASA astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Jim Lovell for an evening discussion at Northwestern University's Thorne Auditorium on Wednesday, July 22. Aldrin and Lovell will reflect on their careers in space and share their experiences as early space pioneers.

Following the presentation, Aldrin will be available to sign copies of his new book, "Magnificent Desolation: The Long Journey Home from the Moon". The presentation begins at 7:00 pm, and the book signing follows at 8:00 pm. Tickets are $15 for the general public. Members receive a special discount.

posted 07-17-2009 12:37 PM            

Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the first lunar landing by Apollo 11 and the central role played by Avro Arrow engineers

On July 20th, The Canadian Air and Space Museum celebrates the 40th anniversary of the first lunar landing by Apollo 11 and the vital contributions of Canadians to this important milestone:

• Did you know a Canadian, Owen Maynard, was in charge of NASA’s Lunar Module Program and played a key role in the design of the lunar module?

• Did you know Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin thanked two former Avro Arrow engineers for their contributions in helping to make the voyage of Apollo 11 a resounding success?

• Did you know that more than 25 engineers left for NASA following the Avro Arrow cancellation in 1959 and made an indelible mark on the manned space program?

Who:

• Canadian Astronaut Roberta Bondar
  
• Original six Canadian Astronaut Bjarni Tryggvason
  
• Avro Arrow Chief Design Engineer Jim Floyd
  
• Chris Gainor, author, Arrows to the Moon
  
• Toronto City Councilor Maria Augimeri
  
• Rod Jones, Executive Director, Ontario Aerospace Council (OAC)
  
• Canadian aerospace legends, test pilots, industry representatives
  
• Messages from Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin and Apollo 15 commander, David Scott, and Harrison Ford

What:

• Discover the pivotal role Avro Arrow engineers played regarding manned spaceflight and the Apollo 11 mission

• Hear and see audio and video images (including of the Apollo program) not seen in 40 years, some of which were thought to no longer exist

• Hear for the first time in 40 years Canadian Owen Maynard, former Head of NASA’s Lunar Module Program and Avro Arrow Engineer discuss his design of the Apollo Lunar Module

• Launch of Canadian Air and Space Pioneers Award

WHAT ELSE: A static display of Canadian built aircraft

WHEN: Monday, July 20, 2009, 10:00 a.m.

WHERE: The Hangar building located directly behind the Canadian Air & Space Museum at 75 Carl Hall Road, Downsview Park, Toronto, ON. M3K 2E1

posted 07-17-2009 12:48 PM            

Meet NASA astronaut and California native Tracy Caldwell

Dr. Caldwell will talk about her life as an astronaut, answer audience questions and sign autographs in the Museum's Pavilion of Flight on Tuesday, July 21. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 12 Noon and will be free with paid Museum admission.

Event Information:

What: Dr. Caldwell will talk about her life as an astronaut, answer audience questions and sign autographs

Where: San Diego Air & Space Museum's Pavilion of Flight

When: Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Time: 9 a.m. to 12 Noon

Cost: This event is free with paid Museum admission

About Tracy Caldwell:
Selected by NASA to become an astronaut in 1998, Caldwell spent over twelve days in space on space shuttle Endeavour during the STS-118 mission in August 2007. The mission visited the International Space Station and contributed to its ongoing construction. She is also assigned to a future mission to spend six months on the International Space Station as a Flight Engineer.

Caldwell was born in Arcadia, CA and received a B.S. in Chemistry from California State University at Fullerton and a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of California at Davis.

Caldwell joins a team of astronauts this baseball season who are returning to their home regions as part of NASA's Hometown Heroes 2009 campaign to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the ISS in orbit and the 40th anniversary of the first lunar landing.

posted 07-17-2009 05:15 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by tncmaxq:
Any other cS folks thinking of getting together in DC? Would be nice if some of us could meet.

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posted 07-17-2009 05:20 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by DChudwin:
Any word on whether President Obama will break this tradition by not marking the occasion?

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President Barack Obama will host the Apollo 11 crew on Monday, the 40th anniversary of man's first landing on the moon.

A senior administration official confirmed the plans to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they had not yet been announced.

The event is one of only two that will feature the entire Apollo 11 crew. The other is a lecture at the Smithsonian Institution Sunday night.

On Monday, the President will meet with the crew of Apollo 11 and newly-confirmed NASA Administrator Bolden.