What: A celebration in honor of NASA’s 50th anniversary will be held Oct. 28 at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. A special panel discussion, “Whoever Said This Would Be Easy: NASA’s 50 Years of Experience,” will provide highlights from Apollo, NASA’s first lunar program; Skylab, America’s earliest space station; and other NASA programs and initiatives that have integrated science and exploration to accelerate scientific discovery. After the panel discussion, the celebration will continue in the courtyard of the Building 4200 complex. Complimentary lunch, door prizes and exhibits commemorating NASA’s 50 years will be part of the festivities.
Who: Marshall Historian Mike Wright and Marshall retirees Jim Odom, Bob Schwinghamer and Luther Powell will lead the panel discussion. Herb Shivers, deputy director of Marshall’s Safety and Mission Assurance Directorate, will serve as moderator. Odom, who retired in 1989, worked on the Saturn launch vehicles that launched the first humans to the moon in 1969. Schwinghamer worked on the Mercury-Redstone launch vehicle that lifted Alan Shepard, America’s first astronaut, into space in 1961. He retired in 1999. Powell worked on plans for the Saturn launch vehicles, Skylab and on the Spacelab modules for the space shuttle. He retired in 1988.
Live entertainment will be provided at the courtyard party by Sharon Hancock, a NASA contractor with SAIC, who supports Marshall’s Networks, Telecom & Desktop Services Office. Hancock will perform with Dixie Diesel, a Huntsville band comprised of Marshall Engineering Directorate employees.
When: Tuesday, Oct. 28 Panel discussion will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. Courtyard party will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: The panel discussion will be held in Building 4200, Morris Auditorium. The celebration will continue in the courtyard behind Building 4200.
To attend: News media interested in covering the event should contact the Marshall Public & Employee Communications Office at (256) 544-0034 no later than 4 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 27. Media must report to the Redstone Arsenal Joint Visitor Control Center at Gate 9, Interstate 565 interchange at Rideout Road/Research Park Boulevard. Vehicles are subject to a security search at the gate. News media will need two photo identifications and proof of car insurance. Visitor parking is available in front of Bldg. 4200 on the southwest side.
