Return to Moon is topic at upcoming Spring Space Forum at Purdue

Space travel experts William Gerstenmaier, Harry Cikanek, Peter Schubert and Rob Landis will talk about the possibility of returning to the Moon and the potential research that can be done there.

The event is organized by the Purdue University Chapter of Students for the Exploration and Development of Space and is sponsored by the Indiana Space Grant Consortium. It will take place at 7:30 p.m. in Stewart Center's Fowler Hall and is free and open to the public.

"The Spring Space Forum is an educational, community-driven event geared toward generating interest in both students and the public on issues concerning space exploration," said Ian Meginnis, Indianapolis, Ind., a member of the student space organization and a first year aerospace engineering student. "We're going to address questions such as, 'Should we go to the Moon?' and 'Why and what should we do there?'"

The audience will be invited to participate and ask questions about space travel.

Gerstenmaier received his bachelor's degree in aeronautics and astronautics from Purdue in 1977. He also completed course work for a doctorate in dynamics and control from Purdue in 1993. Gerstenmaier was recently selected by NASA administrator, Michael Griffin, as the associate administrator for space operations, where he will be directing NASA's human exploration of space. Since June 2002, he has been the program manager of the International Space Station at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. As the program manager, Gerstenmaier was responsible for the overall management, development, integration and operation of the International Space Station.

Cikanek earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Georgia Tech University. He is currently the associate director for exploration systems at NASA/Glenn Research Center. His responsibilities include overseeing all of Glenn's activities that support NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate, which is related to developing advanced propulsion technology and engineering flight test support for the new Crew Exploration Vehicle, the craft designed to replace the Space Shuttle. Cikanek also has led Glenn's efforts in the past to develop space transportation technology, such as the X-33 spacecraft and the Space Launch Initiative program. During his work on these projects, he also investigated into the use of nuclear power as an energy source in space.

Schubert earned a doctoral degree in electrical engineering at Purdue in 1990. He has 20 years experience in microelectronics manufacturing and computer software and system design. Since early this year, Landis has been the senior director of research and development at Packer Engineering, a multi-disciplinary engineering consulting and technical services company. Schubert is actively involved in space-based manufacturing research, including several recent conference papers and a NASA grant at Purdue. He holds 20 U.S. patents and has more than 30 publications.

Landis earned a master's degree in space studies from the University of North Dakota. He currently works in the Mission Operations Directorate at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston. As an operations lead flight controller in the international liaison office, Landis travels to Moscow, Russia, to support the International Space Station. His career with NASA began at the Space Telescope Science Institute and the Hubble Space Telescope in 1992. Since then, he has worked in mission operations on several space missions including the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer; the Cassini-Huygens mission to Saturn and its moons; and the Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity.

Writers: Cynthia Sequin, (765) 494-4192, csequin@purdue.edu

Kiersti Kjonaas, (765) 494-2081, kkjonaas@purdue.edu

Sources: Ian Meginnis, meginnis@purdue.edu

Ariane Chepko, achepko@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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