posted 01-28-2014 11:45 AM               

National Air and Space Society Lecture Series
Space Shuttle Missions and Memories

Friday, March 14, 2014; 8:00 pm
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Chantilly, VA

Presenters:

• Captain Robert L. Crippen, USN (Ret.), astronaut STS-1, STS-7, STS-41C, and STS-41G
  
• N. Wayne Hale, Jr., NASA Flight Director and manager of the Space Shuttle Program
  
• Dr. Sandra H. Magnus, astronaut STS-112, STS-126, ISS Expedition 18, STS-119, and STS-135

Don't miss this rare opportunity to learn about the evolution of the Space Shuttle Program from those who experienced it first-hand.

Speaking about the early program is Captain Robert Crippen, a software-savvy test pilot who understood the "mind" of the revolutionary new space shuttle, who flew it four times in the first four years, making the first-ever manned orbital test flight.

Representing the mid-shuttle era is N. Wayne Hale, Jr., an engineer who served in the Mission Control Center as flight director for 40 shuttle missions, overseeing ascent and entry, and eventually becoming the Space Shuttle Program manager.

And Dr. Sandra Magnus will speak on the final phase of the program. She is a scientist-engineer who flew on the shuttle four times, worked almost five months on the International Space Station, and served on the final shuttle mission crew.

The lecture is for members of the Museum's National Air and Space Society and their guests only. There is no charge for Society members to attend, but advance reservations are required. If you are already a member, visit here to reserve tickets. If you would like to become a member, visit here. Membership dues directly support the National Air and Space Museum and begin at just $35.

There will also be a buffet dinner reception before the lecture with the lecturers for Society members at the Mercury Friendship 7 level and higher. For more information about the reception, contact the Membership Office.

posted 02-24-2014 01:27 PM               

Of course, those who go to the museum can watch the TV special later (just be sure to set your DVRs).

posted 03-15-2014 12:16 PM               

I think that they agree that concluding the shuttle program was a cost benefit, but problematic to return broken parts for study.

I finally met a few of our fellow cS'ers last night and it was great listening to the lecture and had a great time sharing stories with Bob, Eric, and Jeff. Unfortunately, we didn't get to have other items signed due to the turnout. Although the book signing was great! Eric, Bob's son, was given a flown bookmark from STS-114 by N. Wayne Hale.

posted 03-15-2014 12:55 PM               

While minding our own business a couple approached and asked if the other two seats were spoken for and if not could they join us. I looked up and it was Bob Crippen and his wife Pandora. What a nice couple they are.

Before the buffet I saw NASM space shuttle curator Dr. Valerie Neal near the book store driving an electric cart. I mentioned that I had seen her the previous night on the National Geographic Channel's documentary "Shuttle Discovery's Last Mission" on Netflix. She seemed pleased to be recognized and admitted she has yet to see the program for herself.

Tom enjoying dinner with Discovery

posted 03-16-2014 10:03 PM               

I also went back to Udvar-Hazy the next day to hear Pam Melroy speak, and was really impressed with her ability to make her talk interesting to both the adults and the children in attendance. There were a lot of kids there, especially girls, since the program was celebrating women in aviation and space history. Melroy invited as many kids as would fit to come down and sit on the floor in front of her so they could see the pictures she was showing in her presentation. And she took a lot of questions after she finished her talk, and every single one of them was asked by a child. She took those questions about how do you go to the bathroom in space, and how do you eat in space, which I'm sure she has heard about a million times, like it was the first time she had ever heard them asked. She was really great with those kids.

posted 07-03-2014 03:15 PM               

The cover showed a beautiful aerial picture of a shuttle launch. Now, it's possible this photo is old news to the many, many cS members more knowledgeable of the shuttle than I, but I just couldn't put it out of my head. I tried Google searches like "best shuttle launch photos" to find it, but to no avail. Today I e-mailed Emily at the Society to ask if by any chance she could tell me what photo it was, so I could get it printed to 16x20 for my wall. Within minutes she had sent me a link to the photo.

It's of Discovery's first launch, for 41-D. I won't gush about it; you can take a look yourself (be sure to click on the high-res link at the bottom) to see how perfectly the shuttle and its trail are framed in the sun's reflection, and how you can see the VAB down at the bottom.