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Astronauts, NASA exhibit at Purdue for Homecoming, dedication of Neil Armstrong HallPurdue on Tuesday (Sept. 18) will announce plans to dedicate its new $53 million Neil Armstrong Hall of Engineering during Homecoming with the help of the building's namesake and at least 14 other university astronaut alumni.
Neil Armstrong, who in 1969 became the first person to walk on the moon, and Eugene Cernan, the last to walk on the moon in 1972, are among those planning to attend the Oct. 27 dedication. Purdue President France A. Córdova will make the announcement tonight when she delivers the keynote address at the annual dinner of the Lafayette-West Lafayette Chamber of Commerce.
"These alumni are living proof that Purdue really does reach for the stars," Córdova said. "We want everyone to help us celebrate what this wonderful building represents: the spirit of exploration, of challenging conventional limits."
NASA also is celebrating by sending its traveling exhibit - "Vision for Space Exploration Experience" - for a five-day tour that begins Oct. 26. The exhibit will allow visitors to "walk" on the moon and Mars and learn about space exploration.
Often called the "cradle of astronauts," Purdue has 22 alumni who have been selected for space flight, including Virgil "Gus" Grissom and Roger Chaffee, who both died in a fire during a launch pad test in 1967.
The dedication will mark the largest gathering of alumni astronauts on campus since all 19 of those still living returned for a 1999 event to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Armstrong's historic walk. Since then, one other Purdue graduate has been selected for space flight.
In addition to Armstrong and Cernan, space alumni who have confirmed their visit to Purdue are John Blaha, Mark Brown, Richard Covey, John Casper, Andrew Feustel, Gregory Harbaugh, Gary Payton, Mark Polansky, Jerry Ross, Loren Shriver, Janice Voss, Don Williams and David Wolf.
Armstrong, commander of Apollo 11 and Gemini-Titan VIII, earned a bachelor's degree from Purdue in aeronautical and astronautical engineering in 1955.
Blaha, who earned his master's degree in aeronautical engineering from Purdue in 1966, has flown on six Space Shuttle missions, the last in 1997.
Brown, who earned his bachelor's degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering in 1973, has flown on two shuttle missions, the last in 1991.
Casper, who earned his master's degree in astronautics in 1967, has flown on four shuttle missions, the last one in 1996.
Cernan, who earned his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering in 1956, was a member of the Apollo 10 and Apollo 17 crews as well as the Gemini-Titan IX-A crew. He was the last man to walk on the moon.
Covey, a 1969 graduate with a master's degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering, flew on four shuttle missions, the last one in 1993.
Feustel, who earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in earth and atmospheric sciences in 1989 and 1991, respectively, is slated to fly a space shuttle mission next year that will service the Hubble Space Telescope.
Harbaugh, a 1978 graduate with a bachelor's degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering, has flown on four shuttle missions, the last one in 1997.
Payton earned his master's degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering in 1972 and participated in a 1985 shuttle mission.
Polansky earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in 1978 in aeronautical and astronautical engineering and participated in two shuttle flights, the last in 2006.
Ross earned his bachelor's degree in 1970 and his master's degree in mechanical engineering in 1972 and has flown on seven shuttle missions, the last one in 2002.
Shriver, who earned his master's degree in aeronautical engineering in 1968, was on three shuttle missions, the last in 1992.
Voss, who earned her bachelor's degree in engineering sciences in 1975, has flown on five shuttle missions, the last one in 2000.
Williams, who earned his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in 1964, flew on two shuttle missions, the last in 1989.
Wolf, who earned his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering in 1978, participated in three shuttle missions, the last in 1998.
Neil Armstrong Hall will be home to two schools in the College of Engineering - materials engineering and aeronautics and astronautics - as well as the Department of Engineering Education, Engineering Projects in Community Service, or EPICS, the Women in Engineering program and Minority Engineering Program.
The "Vision for Space Exploration Experience" exhibit will be parked next to the new building, located at Stadium and Northwestern avenues. The exhibit will be open to the general public on the following days and times:
* 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday;
* 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday;
* 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, with priority given to youth groups that preregister;
* 3-7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday.
Teachers from area schools also may schedule tours for their students from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday and Tuesday. Teachers and youth group leaders can reserve spots by calling (765) 494-9599.
The 60-foot-long trailer holds 12 people and is designed to inspire visitors as they embark upon a simulated space journey.
The exhibit begins with a 12-minute presentation in a "cosmic waiting area" where visitors are educated about the history of NASA, research regarding the moon and Mars, and future plans for exploration. The area also features holographic videos that allow visitors to learn about the surfaces of Mars and the moon.
The next section features an interactive program in a hexagonal theater providing information about NASA's plans to return to the moon. The program uses virtual reality to make visitors feel like they are walking on the Martian and lunar surfaces.
Information about the exhibit is available online at http://outreach.msfc.nasa.gov
Even though it is Homecoming weekend, it is still a pretty pedestrian-friendly campus!And Mrs. Chaffee gives her moon rock on October 6 during half-time... that will be on display in the new Armstrong building.
posted 09-24-2007 04:01 PM
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