When former astronaut Don Thomas speaks to a group of young people, he often pulls out a life-like NASA illustration: two space-suited individuals embarking on the earth from a four-story landing craft.
“I love to show this picture to students and ask them, ?Do you know who these two astronauts are walking on Mars?? ” Thomas said. “I tell them, ?It?s you. These astronauts could be you or someone in your school who will be the first on Mars!? ”
Today, Thomas will give the first in a series of talks aimed at sparking and interest in college students and school-aged children to study science, technology, engineering and math – the skills that astronauts need in addition to the physical stamina to endure space flight.
“I?m trying to get the public interested in math and science,” he said. “I?m trying to make the series something fun, interesting and very light.”
Between 2009 and 2011, NASA plans to build hardware and test concepts for a lunar lander called Altair, which will be flown to the moon aboard the yet-to-be developed Orion spacecraft.
The first crewed flight of the Orion spacecraft aboard an Ares I rocket is scheduled for no later than 2015, when it will fly to the International Space Station, NASA says. Altair?s first landing on the moon with an astronaut crew is planned for no later than 2020, with a Mars mission envisioned after that.
That?s plenty to time for today?s students to steer their course toward outer space.
Towson University President Robert L. Caret appointed Thomas director of the newly founded Willard Hackerman Academy of Mathematics and Science in March. The astronaut previously served as a NASA International Space Station program scientist at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.
“Many astronauts struggle with what they want to do after flying in space,” he said. “Many retire from NASA and start new careers working for NASA contractors like Lockheed or Boeing. But after flying four times on the Space Shuttle, I decided I wanted to do something different. I wanted to dedicate my efforts to helping inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, and explorers.”
The series, like many programs at the Hackerman Academy, is open to the public and was publicized in area elementary, middle and high schools.
The first talk, The Moon, Mars and Beyond, NASA?s Plans for Human Exploration, will begin at 10 a.m. A visit by Albert Einstein, or an actor portraying the legendary physicist, will be held Jan. 26 and will include interactive physics demonstrations.
IF YOU GO
The Moon, Mars, and Beyond: NASA?s Plans for Human Exploration
When: Presentation begins at 10 a.m.
Where: Smith Hall, room 326
Towson University
Admission is free and open to the public
