University Of Alabama Grads Going Back to Alma Mater to Talk NASA’s Space Launch System Nov. 6-7

What: A group of University of Alabama graduates, all now team members at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., will return to their alma mater Nov. 6-7 for a series of events highlighting the Space Launch System (SLS) Program.

SLS, NASA’s new heavy-lift launch vehicle, is essential to America’s future in human spaceflight and scientific exploration of deep space. Only with a heavy-lift launch vehicle can humans explore our solar system, investigate asteroids and one day set foot on Mars. The Marshall Center manages the SLS Program for the agency.

On Nov. 6, the SLS Education and Public Outreach team will pass out information about the SLS Program and answer questions from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. CST at the university’s Ferguson Center. A 12-foot model of the rocket will be on display.

Two panel discussions with graduates from the College of Engineering and the College of Communication and Information Sciences will be held Nov. 7.

Who:

College of Engineering panel:

Garry Lyles, SLS chief engineer

Michael Kynard, manager, SLS Liquid Engines Office

Sharon Cobb, assistant program manager, SLS Program Office (University of Alabama at Birmingham graduate)

Michelle Taylor, Boeing engineer, supporting SLS Program Office

College of Communication and Information Sciences panel:

Hugh C. (Trey) Cate III, strategic communication lead, SLS Program Office

Kim Henry, public affairs officer, SLS Program Office

Shannon Raleigh, Media Fusion Inc. education and public outreach lead, supporting the SLS Program Office

Kristina Hendrix, Analytical Services Inc. internal communications strategist, supporting the SLS Program Office

When/Where:

Education and Outreach event:

10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. CST, Nov. 6, University of Alabama Ferguson Center

College of Communication and Information Sciences panel:

5 p.m., Nov. 7, Reese Phifer Hall, Room 222

College of Engineering panel:

5:30 p.m., Nov. 7, Lloyd Hall, Room 38

To attend: News media interested in attending the College of Engineering panel should contact Adam Jones at 205-348-6444, or acjones12@eng.ua.edu.  Those interested in attending the College of Communication and Information Sciences panel should contact Misty Matthews at 205-348-6416, or mmathews@ua.edu. For media interested in NASA’s Space Launch System or for expert interviews, please contact Kim Henry at 256-684-6658 or kimberly.m.henry@nasa.gov.

For more information about the SLS Program, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/