PDF Download

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

PDF Download THE ALUMNI MAGAZINE OF EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY SPRING/SUMMER 2021 FLIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL Alumni help industry find new ways to adapt to global pandemic Spring/Summer 2021 FROM THE PRESIDENT 8 Volume 17, No. 1 Lift, the alumni magazine of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, is published twice annually (spring/summer and fall/winter) by the division of Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement. made a full recovery, the pandemic Copyright © 2021 and struggling economy sidelined his Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University goal of becoming a pilot with the U.S. Florida/Arizona/Worldwide Army Air Corps. Rather than abandon 1 Aerospace Blvd. 26 Daytona Beach, FL 32114 his dream, Riddle focused on aviation All rights reserved. 6 maintenance, until a spot in the Army flight program opened. At 25, he Executive Director of Alumni Engagement Bill Thompson (’87) opened a flight school of his own that grew into an aviation business. Based PHILANTHROPY & ALUMNI on this early experience, he insisted his COMMUNICATIONS Executive Director of Communications pilots complete extensive maintenance Anthony Brown training, convinced it would make them Senior Director of Communications/Editor safer operators. His conviction paid Sara Withrow off when the company’s reputation for Assistant Director of Communications Melanie Stawicki Azam 20 12 safety led to its success in securing Assistant Director of Digital This issue of Lift celebrates CAM-24, one of the first U.S. Air Mail Engagement & Philanthropy Alan Marcos Pinto Cesar routes. The government contract IN OTHER WORDS GIVING TO EMBRY-RIDDLE Embry-Riddle alumni who are Alumni Digital Engagement Coordinator stabilized the fledgling company, Cynthia Puckett 5 Family Fuel 22 Giving to the translating resilience into action. allowing it to expand to cargo service, Sergio Sovero (’16) recounts his Bigger Picture photogrammetry and even aviation- CONTRIBUTORS From seizing new market journey to becoming a pilot, which Retired professors make based tourism. Mike Cavaliere, News Manager 12 opportunities for business took him from Peru to Florida planned gift to support student- Each of us, in our own way, carries Michaela Jarvis jet fractional ownership, to Daryl LaBello, Multimedia Producer Flight at athlete scholarships forward Riddle’s combination of daring WINGS OF LEGACY David Massey, Multimedia Producer retooling a critical supply and pragmatism. As you will see from Annelise O’Donnell the End of 6 Riding the First ALUMNI IN ACTION chain, to raising standards of the achievements featured in this issue, Ginger Pinholster, Associate Vice President excellence at the intersection our graduates continue to embody for News & Research Communications Wave of Feminism 24 By Air or by Sea creativity and productivity even in the the Tunnel Embry-Riddle hosted high- Drew Ferguson (‘01) is preparing EAGLE WRITERS CORPS of safety, quality and customer face of unexpected challenges. Alumni help industry profile fliers during 1929 students for aviation and Tristyn Bemis (‘20) service, Eagles move our These success stories are a source find new ways to adapt Women’s Air Derby maritime careers Kim Sheeter industry forward. of pride. We can’t say it too much: Sergio Sovero (’16) to global pandemic FLIGHT PATH GLOBAL Thank you for serving as ambassadors Jack Sprankle (’76) Although the past year brought of inspiration. Thank you, too, for the 8 Blasting Off 26 Fu eling Change delays and detours, our insight, generous financial support that funds Published by Casual Astronaut to Cure Cancer Aviation Management students experience and sheer love of scholarship, research and futures. Managing Editor help revise aviation fuel Colleen Ringer Billionaire charters humanity’s flight and exploration remained as Embry-Riddle graduates have always Creative Director CHECK OUT THE first all-civilian spaceflight regulations in Brazil motivating as ever. I like to believe we shown the industry what excellence Marc Oxborrow LIFT WEBSITE! share a little historical DNA as a part looks like, and your support will Art Director GLOBAL Felicia Penza Read Lift on your of Embry-Riddle. Resourcefulness is continue that tradition. 10 Team Eagle Chief Client Officer desktop, tablet or phone. 28 Eagle Odyssey the core of our legacy. And how we Alumni collaborate on aviation Paul Peterson lift.erau.edu Alumnus honored for creating advance, even when the route seems Onward. Upward. Beyond, modeling and simulation company 1980s Greek alumni group indirect, can bring unexpected gains. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity ALUMNI @WORK Embry-Riddle’s founder, John Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, Paul Riddle, faced setbacks that feel P. Barry Butler, Ph.D. age, national origin, disability, veteran’s 20 Online Detective familiar to us a century later. In 1918, President status or sexual orientation. Albane Flamant (’10) analyzes Nonprofit identification: 59-0936101. he caught influenza. Although he Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University online conversations to benefit Have you moved? Send address changes or unsubscribe requests to: brands and customers Embry-Riddle Office of Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement, 1 Aerospace Blvd., Daytona Beach, FL 32114 Email: [email protected] 2 Cha tter 4 Feedback 30 Alumni News 36 Class Notes Visit: alumni.erau.edu/update-my-info News and notes Embry-Riddle alumni A message from the Find out what your PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER from the world of and friends offer executive director, fellow alumni are Embry-Riddle comments and opinions upcoming events and more up to now ON THE COVER: Illustration by Daniel Hertzberg LIFT SPRING/SUMMER 2021 ALUMNI.ERAU.EDU 1 NEWS & NOTES FROM THE WORLD OF EMBRY-RIDDLE BY THE NUMBERS EMBRY-RIDDLE Expanding Innovation CHATTER Research Park adds Advanced Technology RESEARCH PARK and Manufacturing Center 22 Embry-Riddle’s Research Park will soon The Research Park brings business companies served gain another 10,000 square feet of leaders together with Embry-Riddle faculty ALTIMETER: production space to advance innovation and and students, promotes out-of-the- HIGH POINTS AT entrepreneurship in Central Florida. box thinking and drives technological Dubbed the Advanced Technology and advancement, says Embry-Riddle President EMBRY-RIDDLE $41.1M Manufacturing Center, the new facility will P. Barry Butler. “Our highly collaborative include 5,000 square feet of space for both business ecosystem encourages Worldwide Campus Chancellor raised from grants emerging and established businesses in need transformative ideas enriched by many John R. Watret was appointed and investors of a larger footprint for light assembly and different perspectives,” he adds. “By by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to Matthew Robinaugh, a senior in the Florida Virtual School Board aerospace engineering, confirms the production operations. WeatherFlow-Tempest providing an environment where academia, of Trustees. rotation direction of the motors and Inc., an existing Research Park innovator industry and entrepreneurship can share syncs the transmitter on a drone. 104 focused on weather observation, modeling their best ideas, entrepreneurs in Embry- Embry-Riddle Director of and forecasting technology, was first in Riddle’s Research Park are translating full-time jobs created Athletics John Phillips has line to claim all of the leasable space. The innovation into new products, services been named chair of the newly other half of the building will be devoted to and solutions.” formed Business of Small Research Park operations. — Ginger Pinholster College Athletics Advisory Board Air Taxi Innovators (BOSCA). The BOSCA board will $67,000 be tasked with giving back to the Students gather scalable data for average annual salary collegiate athletics profession and mentoring future leaders. Honeywell’s urban air mobility research Students Jenesis Tucker, Kyle Honeywell is partnering with Embry-Riddle student participants have the same major — Kingsberry and Chelsea Slater to design air taxis and help shape the urban they also come from the computer science 159 will receive paid internships, air mobility (UAM) industry — and students and unmanned aircraft systems programs, for student interns employed professional mentoring and are more than just along for the ride. They’re instance — Cross and Stoutenburgh share an grants of $2,000 as awardees of benefiting from hands-on research opportunities, academic focus in propulsion, and both say they the Patti Grace Smith Fellowship internships and employment offers. are fascinated with engines. competition, which was The project, which aims to characterize the “It was within the last few years that I realized $90M co-founded by alumnus Col. B. Embry-Riddle’s John Mica flight performance of future urban air vehicles by my passion for engines,” Stoutenburgh says. Alvin Drew Jr., USAF, Ret. (’95) to in total economic impact Engineering and Aerospace help “bring long-overdue diversity using scaled-down models, involved six Embry- “They’re a topic I could talk about all day.” in Florida, to date Innovation Complex to the U.S. aerospace industry.” Riddle juniors last year, and all were offered Cross, who is the team lead on the UAM (MicaPlex) is at full capacity. Honeywell summer internships, according to project, says the research will help to determine MASSEY DAVID Three student teams scored in Johann Dorfling, assistant professor of aerospace characteristics of full-size air taxis — capable the
Recommended publications
  • $18 | 2021 the Explorers Club 50 the Explorers Club 50
    $18 | 2021 THE EXPLORERS CLUB 50 THE EXPLORERS CLUB 50 acknowledgements contents 2021 FOUNDING CORPORATE SPONSOR OF THE COMMITTEE FOR DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION INITIATIVE THE EXPLORERS 50 PROJECT Discovery Communications Joseph Rohde, Chairman the explorers club 50 Jeff Blumenfeld Marc Bryan-Brown INTRODUCTION FIFTY EXPLORERS EXPLORERS CHANGING THE EXPLORERS CLUB MAKING THE BOOK SUPPORT OF THE Kim Frank Richard Wiese FN’89 TO KNOW THE WORLD FIFTY PROCESS Lee Langan MED’99 J.R. Harris 5 Joseph M. Rohde FN’10 J. Robert “J.R.” Harris ME’93 Kim N. Frank FN’18 120 EXPLORERS 50 Alexandra Sutton Lawrence 7 10 16 PROJECT Nancy Nenow Nancy Rosenthal Richard & Laetitia Garriott de Cayeux Jalsa Urubshurow Daniel & Lois Kobal Trevor Wallace Richard Wiese awardees Gladys Kalema Zikusoka RUBEN ALEMAN-LUCERO, 39 LATONIA HARTERY, 63 JAMES PRIGOFF, 32 MARGARET O’LEARY AMSLER, 88 JOHN HOUSTON, 47 SIAN PROCTOR, 92 MEMBERS NOMINATING AWARDEES JOEY ANGNATOK, 28 ANDERS JEPSEN, 104 LOSANG RABGEY, 72 CALLIE BROADDUS, 91 SHELTON JOHNSON, 64 SAMUEL E. SULEIMAN RAMOS, 95 BRANDI DECARLI, 52 AYANA ELIZABETH JOHNSON, 67 MAMY RAZAFITSALAMA, 99 Bob Atwater Timothy Jacob Ann Passer SUPRAJA DHARINI, 24 INIT KEITH, 107 MARIO RIGBY, 48 Kathryn Britnell Lisa Keating Milbry Polk JUSTIN DUNNAVANT, 56 PETER LALAMPAA , 36 AVIJAHN SAHA, 60 Gov. Doug Burgum Lee Langan Maureen Raymo SUSAN R. EATON, 96 CASUARINA MCKINNEY-LAMBERT, 112 FAWN SHARP, 100 Greg Carr Alexandra Sutton Lawrence Buffy Redsecker KAARE SIKUAQ ERICKSON, 35 DANIELLE LEE, 23 MICHEL STROGOFF, 31 Julie Chase Damien Leloup Joe Rohde VICKI LYNN FERRINI, 103 JENERIA LEKILELEI, 111 CHIP THOMAS, 119 AYANA FLEWELLEN, 20 BINBIN LI, 108 SCOTT THOMPSON, 53 Jack Daulton Rebecca Martin Faanya Rose BILLY GAUTHIER, 51 ONKURI MAJUMDAR, 44 SATEESH VANKATESH, 40 Matthew DeSantis Rob McCallum Travis Steffens DOMINQUE GONCALVES, 76 JUAN MARTINEZ-PINEDA, 115 DONALD WARNE, 71 Jason Edmunds Kevin McCarey Arnella Trent MARC O GRIOFA, 87 CRAIG MATHIESON, 83 PAIGE WEST, 79 Scott C.
    [Show full text]
  • Satellite & Newspace Snapshot
    Global Recruitment & Executive Search Satellite & NewSpace Specialists MARCH 2021 Satellite & NewSpace Snapshot INDUSTRY INSIGHTS - LATEST NEWS No Let Up In February as NASA Lands on Mars In this issue: and Funding Free For All Omnispace Close $60m Funding Round Continues To Help Develop Satellite Network for 5G, IoT and Global Communications While it might be the shortest month of the year, February still managed to cram in a number of exciting developments and further innovation to keep up the strong start in 2021. In fact, so much has happened this February we SpaceX Announce Inspiration4 Mission and struggled to condense it into just a few articles! Offer The Chance to Win a Seat on a Falcon 9 This month we have seen NASA land its Perseverance rover on the surface of Mars, SpaceX launch more of it’s Starlink constellation and have a rare first stage landing failure, investment keeps rolling into the NewSpace Omnispace Lyteloop economy with a number of start-ups closing funding rounds and more established players like Telesat receive further funding as well exciting news SpaceX Axiom Space from Intelsat as they move closer to coming out of chapter 11. NASA Telesat As more and more positive development take place in the space industry we wait with baited breath to see what more 2021 has up its sleeves for us. Intelsat Osprey Technology BlackSky Acquisition www.neuco-group.co.uk [email protected] Market Insights Omnispace Close $60m Funding Intelsat Announce Agreement with Round To Help Develop Satellite Creditors to Reduce Debt By More Network for 5G, IoT and Global Than 50% Communications The world’s largest satellite operator, Intelsat, announced Omnispace announced this month they had closed a this month that they have come to an agreement with round of equity financing of $60m to keep the launch of their creditors to reduce its debt liabilities by over 50%.
    [Show full text]
  • Watch the Historic Spacex Inspiration4 Launch at Kennedy
    Watch the Historic SpaceX Inspiration4 Launch at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex Special package available to see the world’s first all-civilian mission to orbit, launch from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A CAPE CANAVERAL (September 3, 2021) – KENNEDY SPACE CENTER – Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will offer a “Feel the Heat” special package for the upcoming Inspiration4 launch. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a Crew Dragon spacecraft for this first-ever all-private, all-civilian orbital mission targeting no earlier than September 15 from Kennedy Space Center’s iconic Launch Complex 39A. The Inspiration4 mission is organized to raise money and awareness for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and will travel across a low-Earth orbit on a multi-day journey that will continually eclipse more than 90 percent of Earth’s population. The mission is commanded by billionaire Jared Isaacman, who will be joined by scientist and educator Sian Proctor, medical officer Hayley Arceneaux and mission specialist Christopher Sembroski. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex offers some of the closest public viewing of launches with distinctive experiences like live launch commentary from space experts and access to select exhibits and attractions prior to the launch. Package: “Feel the Heat” Location: Banana Creek at Apollo/Saturn V Center, four miles from Launch Complex 39A Cost: $250 per person Package includes: Two-day admission (second use is valid after launch, within 30 days) Special badge with lanyard Exclusive gift and mission lithograph Complimentary meal from Moon Rock Cafe Jumbotron live feed and commentary provided by a Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex space expert Bus transportation to and from Banana Creek Digital photo at Apollo/Saturn V Center As always, the health and safety of employees and guests is the highest priority for Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.
    [Show full text]
  • Facebook Unveils Virtual Reality 'Workrooms'
    Established 1961 11 Sunday, August 22, 2021 Lifestyle Features onny Chiba, a Japanese martial arts humble, caring and friendly man.” who recruited him in a competition for new Hattori Hanzo, who forges a sword to help Sexpert and actor who appeared in Born Sadaho Maeda in 1939 in talent. In the wake of Bruce Lee’s world- Uma Thurman in her quest for revenge in Quentin Tarantino’s “Kill Bill,” has died Fukuoka, in the southwest of Japan, Chiba wide success, Chiba made a name for him- “Kill Bill.” In 2006, Chiba also had a role in from COVID-19 complications, his agent studied martial arts throughout the 1960s, self outside Japan as an ultra-violent “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift.” In this file photo Sonny Chiba attends the world said Thursday. He was 82. “Sonny passed becoming a particular expert in karate. His henchman in “The Street Fighter” trilogy. Beal said Chiba had been due to work on premiere of the new Japanese/American co- away from COVID-19 yesterday,” Timothy skills landed him numerous roles in That performance left an impression on “Outbreak Z,” a zombie movie starring production of the feature film ‘Take a Chance’ Beal told AFP. “Such tragic news. He was a Japanese films and television series, a youthful Tarantino, who would later cast Wesley Snipes. — AFP at ArcLight Hollywood in Hollywood. — AFP great friend and an awesome client. Such a including with the influential Toei studio, him to play samurai-turned-sushi-chef etflix will soon premiere a docu- seat went to Hayley Arceneaux, 29, a Nmentary series chronicling physician assistant, who survived cancer Inspiration4, the world’s first all- as a child and will become the first per- civilian space mission, the streaming son to go into space with a prosthesis.
    [Show full text]
  • JEP STEM Education Programs
    JEP STEM Education Programs SPRING 2 0 2 1 CONTENTS Springing Back Into Remote Learning Springing Back Into by Sabrina Mir Remote Learning With the COVID-19 pandemic still in full force in Los Angeles, YSP staff began fever- Wonderkids ishly preparing for the Spring semester of teaching. Since the Fall semester threw us into Medical STEM remote teaching, our staff was more than Program prepared to face the challenges associated with Zoom learning. Still, we had to adjust our STEM Moms plans to ensure that Spring instruction was also at-home-friendly. In preparation for this Green STEM Kits semester, YSP staff members spent countless Unfortunately, we were unable to hours revising lessons, finding household hold on-site workshops this semester, due to Program Staff materials to substitute for inaccessible COVID-19 precautions. In addition, our supplies, and making lesson accommodations semester was shortened to seven weeks of for online teaching. instruction. However, our staff was able to For example, several of our continue making lessons more accessible for fourth-grade lessons centered on the concept all of our partner schools. For classrooms that of electricity. For our squishy circuits lesson, were unable to receive live instruction, several the 4th grade staff decided to swap out D-cell staff members continued creating Youtube batteries, battery holders, and wire for coin videos that corresponded with weekly lessons. batteries and Play-doh, allowing us to illustrate In total this Spring, we created 60 the same concept with more easily obtainable new instructional videos: 45 of which were for materials. YSP, 9 for MSP, and six for Wonderkids.
    [Show full text]
  • US Parents Excited Over Jabs for Kids
    ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, MAY 6, 2021 SCIENCE 11 Space 1st American in space marked 60th ’versary: Tourists lining up for space trip CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., May 5, (AP): Sixty years after Alan Shepard became the first American in space, everyday people are on the verge of following in his cosmic footsteps. Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin company is finally opening ticket sales for short hops from Texas launched by a rocket named New Shepard. Details are coming Wednesday, the 60th anni- versary of Shepard’s Mercury flight. Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic aims to kick off tourist flights next year, just as soon as he straps into his space- skimming, plane-launched rocketship for a test run from the New Mexico base. And Elon Musk’s SpaceX will launch a billionaire and his sweepstakes winners in September. That will be followed by a flight by three businessmen to the International Space Station in January. “It’s a huge leap, right?” said NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough, commander of SpaceX’s most recent flight to the space station. “But it’s pretty cool ... citizens will be able to have the chance to go to space and experience what we get to.” It’s all rooted in Shepard’s 15-min- ute flight on May 5, 1961. Shepard was actually the second per- son in space - the Soviet Union launched cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin three weeks earlier, to Shepard’s ever- lasting dismay. Shepard The 37-year-old Mercury astronaut and Navy test pilot cut a slick sci-fi figure in his silver spacesuit as he stood in the predawn dark- ness at Cape Canaveral, looking up at his Redstone rocket.
    [Show full text]
  • View E-Magazine
    STELLAR CHRONICLE EDITORIAL With the launch of “STELLAR CHRONICLE” a Quarterly E Magazine, the UL Space Club is embarking on yet another ambitious voyage. A voyage fuelled by the enormous enthusiasm and youthful exuberance of its members and well-wishers. Complementing the other activities of the club, Stellar Chronicle intends to facilitate a platform for exploring, expressing, and conveying the views, observations and creative outputs of the club members and well-wishers amidst a wider audience. I am sure that this objective will eminently be fulfilled, considering the track record of the club powered by the effervescent youth and the galaxy of patrons it has. More than 50 years of Human activities in space has resulted in a continuing flow of social benefits improving the quality of life on earth. Critical knowledge and capabilities for developing Satellite Telecommunications, Global Positioning, Earth Observation, Weather forecasting, Manned spaceflight etc. have emerged. Space exploration has sparked new scientific and technological ingenuity and innovation not to mention the better understanding of our universe and the solar system that has accrued. A new perspective on our individual and collective place in the universe has evolved. It will therefore be our endeavour to bring to you in the form of articles and excerpts, the history of space exploration as also technology as it unfolds. We are fortunate to have a galaxy of eminent space scientists and technologists as also other science and technology domain veterans amidst us, to hold our hands in this onerous task. I take this opportunity to seek their continued support and guidance, as also, invoke their blessings.
    [Show full text]
  • Vidhigya March 2021 Magazine Yellow Theme.Cdr
    www.vidhigya.in MARCH 2021 | ISSUE I | PRICE `100 India’s Best Current Affairs & Mentorship Magazine for CL T Law Aspirants CURRENT AFFAIRS MAGAZINE MAR. 2021 SPECIAL FEATURES TOPPERS' TALK WITH SIDDHANT BAHETI CHECK YOUR BANGABANDHU QUIZDOM AT PAGE NO. 55 SHEIKH MUJIBUR RAHMAN HIGHLIGHTS Amitabh Bachchan Received the FIAF Award 2021 Gandhi Peace Prize for the year 2020 will be conferred on Bangabandhu Sharad Pagare chosen as the recipient of the Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. presgious Vyas Samman 2020 LAW PUNPUN One day in Contract Law class, Professor Vidhaan asked one of his better students Vidhi, “Now if you were to give someone an orange, how would you go about it?” The student replied, “Here’s an orange.” The professor was livid. “No! No! Think like a lawyer!” The student then replied, “Okay, I’d tell him, ‘I hereby give and convey to you all and singular, my estate and interests, rights, claim, title, claim and advantages of and in, said orange, together with all its rind, juice, pulp, and seeds, and all rights and advantages with full power to bite, cut, freeze and otherwise eat, the same, or give the same away with and without the pulp, juice, rind and seeds, anything herein before or hereinafter or in any deed, or deeds, instruments ofwhatever nature or kind whatsoever to the contrary in anywise notwithstanding…” Be LAWgical TOPPERS' TALK WITH CLAT TOPPER Siddhant Bahe hailing from Indore city from Madhya Pradesh has achieved this feat and made it large. He has secured admission to Naonal Law School of India University - (NLSIU) Bengaluru, also known as 'Harvard of East'.
    [Show full text]
  • ESPI Insights Space Sector Watch
    ESPI Insights Space Sector Watch Issue 13 February 2021 THIS MONTH IN THE SPACE SECTOR… SPACE INSURERS LOOK FOR PROFITABILITY AFTER THREE YEARS OF LOSS .......................................... 1 POLICY & PROGRAMMES .................................................................................................................................... 2 Mars missions’ arrival bring major successes for space exploration ....................................................... 2 European Commission’s Action Plan on synergies between civil, defence and space industries ....... 3 UK and Australia sign agreement to increase bilateral cooperation in space sector ............................. 3 Spain publishes new Defence Technology and Innovation Strategy ......................................................... 3 Thales Group selected by French Armed Forces for the delivery of Syracuse IV ground stations...... 3 In other news ........................................................................................................................................................ 4 INDUSTRY & INNOVATION .................................................................................................................................. 5 Telesat awards contract to Thales Alenia Space for delivery of broadband constellation ................... 5 European New Space companies ask European Commission to update bidding procedures ............ 5 The European Court of Justice suspends Galileo second generation contract ...................................... 5
    [Show full text]
  • 60 Years Since 1St American in Space: Tourists Lining up 5 May 2021, by Marcia Dunn
    60 years since 1st American in space: Tourists lining up 5 May 2021, by Marcia Dunn Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic aims to kick off tourist flights next year, just as soon as he straps into his space-skimming, plane-launched rocketship for a test run from the New Mexico base. And Elon Musk's SpaceX will launch a billionaire and his sweepstakes winners in September. That will be followed by a flight by three businessmen to the International Space Station in January. "We've always enjoyed this incredible thing called space, but we always want more people to be able to experience it as well," NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough said from the space station Wednesday. "So I think this is a great step in the right direction." It's all rooted in Shepard's 15-minute flight on May 5, 1961. Shepard was actually the second person in space—the Soviet Union launched cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin three weeks earlier, to Shepard's everlasting dismay. In this May 5, 1961 file photo, astronaut Alan Shepard sits in his capsule at Cape Canaveral, Fla., aboard a Mercury-Redstone rocket. Freedom 7 was the first American manned suborbital space flight, making Shepard the first American in space. (AP Photo) Sixty years after Alan Shepard became the first American in space, everyday people are on the verge of following in his cosmic footsteps. Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin used Wednesday's anniversary to kick off an auction for a seat on the company's first crew spaceflight—a short Shepard- like hop launched by a rocket named New Shepard.
    [Show full text]
  • Space News Greg Stanley July 10, 2021 Robotic Missions to Venus Announced
    Space News Greg Stanley July 10, 2021 Robotic missions to Venus announced • 2 NASA missions to launch around 2029 • First US missions there in 30 years except flybys • DAVINCI+ (atmospheric analysis, images) • Atmosphere 90x • Parachute a probe (3 foot titanium sphere) in 1 hour thicker than Earth’s descent to surface, 1.5 hour life • Determine how atmosphere evolved, if it had an • 900 °F at surface ocean, look for controversial phosphine life indicator • Sulfuric acid • VERITAS • Radar will update topographic maps • Looking for geologic activity like volcanos, land movement Contrast-enhanced false color image. Credit: NASA/JPL • ESA (European Space Agency) announced similar EnVision mission (2031) • Rocket Lab still plans private mission using Photon craft (2023) • Will orbit, drop a probe, look for that phosphine biomarker • Rocket Lab has NASA contracts to orbit the Moon (2021), Mars (2024) • Why now: climate change emphasis, mostly-discredited recent evidence of life Suborbital space tourism/private astronaut race • Virgin Galactic launch expected July 11 • First launch with passengers (+ 2 pilots) • Richard Branson + 3 other employee passengers • 2 hour ride, mostly in the carrier aircraft, 4- 5 minutes of weightlessness • Blue Origin launch expected on July 20 • First New Shepard launch with people • Jeff Bezos going, taking his brother, 82-year old woman Wally Funk (trained as an Picture credit: Virgin Galactic astronaut), and someone who paid $28M in a charity auction • 10 minute automated ride (no pilots), 3 minutes of weightlessness
    [Show full text]
  • Iwc Schaffhausen Designs the Inspiration4 Chronographs to Support the World’S First All-Civilian Mission to Orbit
    IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN DESIGNS THE INSPIRATION4 CHRONOGRAPHS TO SUPPORT THE WORLD’S FIRST ALL-CIVILIAN MISSION TO ORBIT Four unique Pilot’s Watches representing the mission’s values of Leadership, Hope, Generosity and Prosperity will travel into space before being auctioned in aid of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® Schaffhausen, August 26, 2021 – To support Inspiration4, the world’s first all-civilian mission to orbit, IWC Schaffhausen has designed and donated a series of unique, space-themed Pilot’s Watch Chronographs representing the mission’s values of Leadership, Hope, Generosity and Prosperity. The watches will be worn by the four crew members on their journey into space, before being auctioned as part of the mission’s aim to raise funds for and promote the life-saving work of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®. The Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition “Inspiration4” orbit represents a new era for human spaceflight and features a case made of stunning white ceramic. The exploration. The mission is the brainchild of Jared unique color results from a complex manufacturing Isaacman, a 38-year-old entrepreneur and accomplished process in which zirconium oxide is mixed with other pilot who will also serve as Commander. The mission metallic oxides in a precisely defined ratio. With a Vickers is set to launch in September from historical Launch rating second only to that of diamond, engineering Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in ceramic ranks among the hardest substances on the Florida. The spacecraft will orbit the planet at an altitude planet. The dark blue lacquered dial has been pad- of approximately 357 miles (575 kilometres) and a printed with countless stars and captures the depth speed of more than 17,500 miles per hour (27,360 kph).
    [Show full text]