Space Flight: A Human Perspective

In this "Space Age" we are just beginning to explore the solar system, and
human space flights into Earth orbit are our first baby steps off our home
planet. Why do we go to space? What do we do there? What will we learn in
this environment that will benefit future explorers? A four-time space
flight veteran will describe her experiences in space and opportunities for
future explorers.

October 6, 2006
7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Virginia Air and Space Center
600 Settlers Landing Rd.
Hampton, VA
Directions

About the Speaker

Kathryn C. Thornton
Professor of Technology, Culture and Communications in the School of Engineering & Applied Science

Dr. Thornton joined the University of Virginia faculty in 1996 as a professor and is now assistant dean for graduate programs. Prior to Virginia, she served for 12 years as an astronaut, based at the Johnson Space Center, where her duties included participation in space missions as well as a term as head of the Education Working Group. For her work on the Hubble telescope repair project and other missions, she was awarded NASA's Distinguished Service Medal, as well as numerous other honors. Before joining the space program, Dr. Thornton co-authored more than 30 scientific publications and was a staff physicist for the U.S. Army Foreign Science and Technology Center.