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Astronaut Chris Cassidy from York, Maine, STS – 127
Space Day in Maine 2011...
My participation for the event generally starts the evening before Space Day, when a Presenter’s Dinner is held at a restaurant in the hosting municipality. This year Sharon
made arrangements at Casa Novello,
located at 694 Main Street in Westbrook and the group gathered at 1800 hours to break bread. I packed what I thought would be required for camera gear and went to visit with friends in our
Space Day family.
Sharon Eggleston - Northeast Regional Coordinator and our 'Queen of Space Day Maine'... |
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I was pleased to speak with Brian Ewenson once again at the dinner. Brian was this year’s keynote speaker and traveled from San Antonio, Texas along with
his lovely spouse, Amanda, also an aerospace educator. There will be more about Brian and his Space Day activities later on…
Brian and Amanda Ewenson... |
Presenters' Dinner Views...
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Everyone attending the Presenters’ Dinner was a dignitary and had a role in Space Day. However, it was a special pleasure to have Maine State Senator Elizabeth M. Schneider, attend this year. She has been involved with
Sharon and the event for multiple years and is always supportive of the effort. Elizabeth represents Senate District 30, which includes the Penobscot County municipalities of Orono, Old Town, Lincoln and many more.
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Space Day - Friday, May 6th...
Soon enough people who would be doing presentations and exhibits began to arrive. Sharon was exceptionally pleased to welcome a group of sailors from the newly christened
Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, DDG 111 Spruance, constructed by General Dynamics-Bath Iron Works. This group served to staff the exhibits, presented the colors as an honor
guard at the opening ceremonies, served as keepers of the moon rocks that were exhibited, and fulfilled many functions during the day to aid the event. It was a pleasure to have them along and the
morning started out with a group shot of the sailors orchestrated by Sharon.
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The USS Spruance was named in honor of Admiral Raymond Ames Spruance. Born in Baltimore in 1886 and raised in Indiana, Spruance graduated from the United States
Naval Academy in 1906 and commenced his active career. With the onset of World War II Spruance commanded Cruiser Division Five, integrated into a task force under
Admiral William Halsey and the carrier USS Enterprise. With Halsey hospitalized in mid-1942 and with his recommendation to accede command in his absence, it fell to
Spruance to lead Task Force 16 at the Battle of Midway against the superior veteran naval forces of the Imperial Japanese Navy. With the destruction of four IJN carriers
and just as importantly, thwarting Japanese plans for the capture of Port Moresby in strategic New Guinea, Midway was a decisive and significant victory for the United
States. After Midway (June 4-7, 1942) he served in various rolls and in August 1944 he became Commander of Pacific Forces, soon re-designated Commander Fifth
Fleet. Spruance was in
overall command of the occupation of the Gilbert Islands, November 1943; the invasion of the Marshalls, January 1944; operations for the capture of Saipan, Guam and
Tinian in the Marianas, which included the Battle of the Philippine Sea, 19 – 20 June, 1944, and later for the capture of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. This gallant sailor
saw much of warfare in the pacific theatre. Spruance died in Pebble Beach, California in 1969 and now lives on through this proud ship and crew of DDG 111. I believe the
Admiral would have approved…
Ship's Patch, DDG 111 - USS Spruance... |
The day started off with an assembly at the beautiful new facility housing the Middle School and Westbrook’s Performing Arts Center. There were many students in attendance
and the presenters’ and staff staying at the middle school for the day came in for the opening remarks and Brian’s presentation. We were also joined by another
dignitary, Ann LePage, the First Lady of Maine - spouse of our Governor, Paul LePage. The assembly started with presentation of the colors by the naval honor guard, a
rendition of our national anthem, and the Pledge of Allegiance.
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Ron Thompson, representing Southern Maine Astronomers
of Cumberland, presented a telescope to the school. It is hoped this instrument will aid to peak student interest in
astronomy and study of the night sky.
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Jon Ross welcomed the guests and dignitaries to kick off the event. We thought he was wonderful in the role, serving with enthusiasm and a sense of purpose. And we
appreciated his NASA jumpsuit worn with his tie. Everyone felt welcomed at Space Day in Westbrook…
Opening Remarks by Jon Ross, Principle of Westbrook High School... |
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Ann LePage, Maine’s First Lady, was gracious to read the Governor’s Space Day 2011 Proclamation. Over the course of the day Mrs. LePage
participated in many Space Day activities and expressed a great interest in the event.
Ann attended the assembly, read to
elementary (K-2) students, walked the exhibits and sat in on some of the presentations and hand’s-on experiments demonstrated for the students.
Her enthusiasm and encoragement was appreciated by all. It was truly a pleasure to have her join us at our Space Day events in Westbrook.
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Anita Bernhardt from the Maine Department of Education, a State Science & Technology Specialist, got up to say a few words and read a letter
from Maine Commissioner of Education, Stephen Bowen. Anita has been active with Space Day planning and activities for a number of years.
Anita Bernhardt - Maine Department of Education... |
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Olympia J. Snow, pursuant to the Challenger Learning Center’s Space Day Open House.
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The Keynote Address...
Maine’s Space Day was privileged to have Brian Ewenson, an Aerospace Educator from San Antonio, Texas, as the keynote speaker again this year. Brian is
recognized as an aerospace expert in Canada and NASA’s Space programs and is a professional lecturer. Through his speaking efforts he has educated and entertained hundreds of thousands of
students and adults across North America with his hands-on presentations using authentic space program hardware. This year he provided an outstanding
presentation of what’s required and what it’s really like to become an astronaut. Brian took us all through a space shuttle mission from crew selection,
launch, working in space and re-entry. This presentation was mesmerizing - students and adults alike were enthralled throughout – it was wonderful…
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After Brian’s presentation everyone took a few minutes while the students returned to classrooms or moved on to the next activity. This provided a
brief period for everyone to chat, make introductions or catch up with friends. It also provided some photo opportunities that we took advantage of…
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Presenters and Exhibits...
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The school gymnasium area was used for a plethora of exhibits and activities and this is where we found ourselves quickly enough once the assembly was
completed. There’s much to see and one can feel the excitement of the students as they make the rounds. Mrs. LePage spent some time in discussion with Ed Ham
from Brunswick. Ed attends Space Day with various space program models like the space shuttle and International Space Station, which are helpful in explaining
to students how these vehicles operate. Oh, and did I mention Ed is the father of astronaut Ken Ham (STS 132)?
Ed Ham in Discussion with Ann LePage and Student... |
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Some of Sharon's Space Program Patches on Display...
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Views Around the Gym - Westbrook High School...
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Dr. Lynn J. Rothschild is an evolutionary biologist, astrobiologist and synthetic biologist at NASA's Ames Research Center, and a consulting Professor at Stanford
University, where she teaches Astrobiology and Space Exploration. Space Day in Maine was fortunate to have her join us.
Steve Taylor from the AEGIS Test Team in Bath, Maine transported a high altitude balloon similar to those used by Dr. Rothschild in her research for exhibit. This was set up in an
isolated part of the gym where she and Steve Taylor lectured over the course of the day to many
student groups.
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Dr. Monroe Dubois, a University of Southern Maine Virologist/Professor, explores fundamental questions of life including life’s origins, distribution, and
future on Earth and elsewhere in the universe, which he discussed with student groups. A team of scientists from the University of Southern Maine (USM),
NASA, and the University of Nairobi in Kenya are studying the microbes and viruses that inhabit Earth’s extreme environments to understand the limits of
life on Earth and to search for life elsewhere in the solar system and the universe.
Dr. Monroe Dubois of USM Presenting... |
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The Bowdoin College RoboCup Squad was on hand and is always well received by students and faculty as they discuss how to get humanoid robots to play
soccer autonomously. This is pretty neat stuff…
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Jack Morrison of the Bowdoin College RoboCup Squad Presenting... |
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Lauren Swett is a Senior Structural Engineer and the Region 1 Director of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Her talks with students centered upon
strengths of composite materials and usages in space exploration…
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Parting Views from Westbrook High School...
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Forrest and I had been at the high school for multiple hours and taken many exposures. It was nearly noon and time to return to the middle school to
document activities there before the day ended. Sharon had things to do at the high school still, so we said our goodbyes and departed…
MMC David Eggleston, USN and Ann LePage... |
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Return to Westbrook Middle School...
We arrived just in time to learn that most presenters were breaking for lunch. As we didn’t know who was presenting where, or how to locate whatever
room they may be using, we decided to go to lunch as well. This provided an opportunity to catch up with friends to learn how their day was progressing…
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We spoke with our friend and associate Rob Burgess, which proved helpful in planning the next part of the day. Rob is a member our astronomy club,
Southern Maine Astronomers (SMA) and a NASA Solar System Ambassador. His presentation was about current NASA Missions including the Mars rovers,
the New Horizons Mission and the Search for Near Earth Asteroids.
Robert A. Burgess, Esq., Maine Solar System Ambassador... |
Ron Thompson, another member of Southern Maine Astronomers, is an avid solar observer. He was presenting facts about our star. We didn’t plan a solar observing
session this year – generally a solar telescope or two is set up nearby for views of the sun...
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Thurston Searfoss of Blueberry Pond Observatory, always a Space Day participant and supporter, was on hand again
this year. Thurston was discussing how one can
discover new comets, asteroids and supernovas using ‘modest’ earth-bound equipment – the kind the average person not involved with a superfund can afford…
Thurston Searfoss of Blueberry Pond Observatory... |
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Michael Weiss, an educator at Yarmouth High School was discussing the importance of math and science in model rocketry. His presentation included some
detailed rocket models and excellent visual aids.
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Views Around Westbrook Middle School...
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It was disappointing to miss one of my favorite people presenting this Space Day, but I did get a few photographs of Diane Bowen helping out a
science class during her down time. Diane is an 8th grade science teacher at Brunswick Junior High School where she teachers astrobiology. She also heads up an EarthKAM Team consisting of 8th Grade science students. EarthKAM
involves the study of our planet using pictures taken by the EarthKAM Team from a camera located on the International Space Station...
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Forrest and I went into the gym to await the students returning after lunch. The Space Day rocket crew operated out of the gym where multiple classes would
meet to view the exhibits. The students and teachers would attend a lecture and hands-on demonstrations, try out the stomp rockets in the gym, and then afterwards go outside for a
supervised rocket launching session. The indoor stomp rockets are always a high point with the students and they did take advantage of the opportunity to get
after these in the gym. The Space Day Rocket Crew consists of Charlie Groves, Kevin McAloney, Brad Krog, Rick LaPointe and Mark Phillips from the AEGIS Test Team...
Charlie Groves - Rocket Man in the Gym... |
Another participant working in the gym was Sharon’s daughter, Cindy Eggleston. Cindy assisted with the exhibits and worked with students during the day...
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Views in the Gym - Westbrook Middle School...
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The End of Space Day 2011...
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It was just before 1500 hours and the end of Space Day 2011. Although not late, it had been a long day filled with a great deal of
activity. It’s unlikely anyone can look back upon the event and not believe it was an unmitigated success. Space Day Westbrook was about as good as it gets…
The End of a Long and Eventful Day... |
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This humble web account is dedicated to Dr. Terry Shehata and Jana Hall of the Maine Space Grant Consortium and to Sharon Eggleston of Lockheed Martin for their encouragement and outstanding support in presenting Space Day activities in the State of Maine to inspire students to pursue STEM careers...
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Kiro
May 2011
May 2011