Purdue News
Purdue News
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October 8, 1999 Purdue astronauts to rendezvous on campus Oct. 22Source: Carolyn Gery, (765) 494-2731,csgery@udo.purdue.edu
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue's astronaut alumni will return to campus for their first reunion in 14 years to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the moon landing and to meet with friends and supporters of the university during its President's Council Annual Weekend, Oct. 22-23. Neil Armstrong and Eugene Cernan, the first and last men on the moon, will be among the 18 astronaut alumni taking part in a variety of events, including a tribute to them during the Purdue vs. Penn State home football game Saturday (10/23). Several of the astronaut alumni as well as Purdue faculty will teach 16 "back to class" sessions to President's Council members that Friday. The classes all have space-related topics such as "Flying a 100-Ton Glider," "How to Be a Human Satellite," and "Life Aboard Mir." "This will be only the second general reunion of our astronauts on the campus, making this a very special event," said Carolyn Gery, executive director of the President's Council. "The last time was in 1985 when all 15 of our living astronaut alumni at that time returned to campus. These men and women have extremely busy schedules, but their loyalty to Purdue is so strong that all of them are making an effort to return. Only Mary Ellen Weber will not be able to come, and that is because she is preparing for a NASA mission in January." Known as the cradle of astronauts, Purdue has graduated 21 people who have been selected for space flight, including Virgil "Gus" Grissom and Roger Chaffee, who died Jan. 27, 1967, in a fire inside their space capsule during a preflight test of Apollo 1. The President's Council is an organization of more than 6,800 individuals and families who provide significant financial support to the university. In addition to having the opportunity to attend the "back to class" sessions, members will dine with the astronauts during the council's annual dinner, to be held Friday evening in the Purdue Memorial Union, and during its pre-game brunch on Saturday in Lambert Fieldhouse. Both events are sold out. Purdue's 21 astronaut alumni are: Neil A. Armstrong, bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering, 1955. John E. Blaha, master's degree in astronautical engineering, 1966. Roy D. Bridges Jr., master's degree in astronautical engineering, 1966. Mark N. Brown, bachelor's degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering, 1973. John J. Casper, master's degree in astronautical engineering, 1967. Eugene A. Cernan, bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, 1956. Roger B. Chaffee, bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering, 1957. Chaffee will be represented by his widow, Martha Chaffee. Richard O. Covey, master's degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering, 1969. Guy S. Gardner, master's degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering, 1970. Virgil I. Grissom, bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, 1950. Grissom will be represented by his widow, Betty Grissom. Gregory J. Harbaugh, bachelor's degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering, 1978. Michael J. McCulley, bachelor's and master's degrees in metallurgical engineering, 1970. Gary E. Payton, master's degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering, 1972. Mark L. Polansky, bachelor's and master's degrees in aeronautical and astronautical engineering, 1978. Jerry Ross, bachelor's and master's degrees in mechanical engineering, 1970 and 1972. Loren J. Shriver, master's degree in astronautical engineering, 1968. Janice E. Voss, bachelor's degree in engineering science, 1975. Charles D. Walker, bachelor's degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering, 1971. Mary Ellen Weber, bachelor's degree in chemical engineering, 1984. Donald E. Williams, bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, 1964. David A. Wolf, bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, 1978. Writer: Jeanne V. Norberg, (765) 494-2084; jeanne_norberg@uns.purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@uns.purdue.edu Related Web site:Purdue in Space
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