Coffee at the Cosmo - January 20, 2011

Coffee at the Cosmo on Thursday, January 20, is entitled, “The Sacrifice of Exploration: Tragedy in Spaceflight.” It is at 9 a.m. at the Cosmosphere and is free and open to the public.

This time of year is the anniversary of three major disasters in the space program. The Apollo 1 fire happened on January 27, 1967. Challenger exploded on January 28, 1986. Columbia broke apart on reentry on February 1, 2003.

Astronauts have always known exploration carried risks, and accepted them willingly. Gus Grissom said just a few weeks before he died in the Apollo 1 fire, “We hope if anything happens to us, it will not delay the program. The conquest of space is worth the risk of life.”

At the coffee this month we pay tribute to the brave men and women who paid the ultimate price so we could explore and learn.

Coffee at the Cosmo is an ongoing series of free presentations at the Cosmosphere. It’s the third Thursday of every month at 9 a.m. and is always free. Enjoy coffee and pastries, meet new friends, and learn something new.

Upcoming Topics Include:
February 17, 2011 “Snoopy Soars with NASA: Exhibit Preview”
March 17, 2011 “Going Green in Space”
April 21, 2011 “First in Space: Yuri Gagarin and 50 years of Russian Spaceflight”

The Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing patrons' knowledge of space exploration. Educating people from around the globe, the Cosmosphere boasts the Hall of Space museum, one of the most significant collections of U.S. and Russian space artifacts in the world; the Justice Planetarium, a dome-shaped classroom where attendees learn about astronomy; Dr. Goddard's Lab, a live demonstration of early rocket technology; the Carey IMAX® Dome Theater, one of the first ones built in the world; and summer astronaut training camps. For more information visit cosmo.org.

Cosmosphere in TPLC Classroom

The students at Turning Point Learning Center in Emporia are building a half-size replica of the Apollo 13 command module. In the process they're studying everything from math to writing.

On December 16, the Cosmsophere was invited to share with them by Skype. Cosmosphere President and CEO Chris Orwoll stood in front of the Apollo 13 Command Module "Odyssey," housed at the Cosmosphere, and spoke live with the class in Emporia.

He was able to show them details of various parts they were working on, and tell them the story of the mission. The students were able to ask questions, too.

Technology allows us to reach out to students anywhere, and use space history to teach a variety of subjects.

Thanks to Kevin Honeycutt and Ginger Lewman for making it possible for us to work with the TPLC. We can't wait to see what they come up with!

Trivia Contest - Silver Snoopy

Lois Huneycutt is our email newsletter trivia winner this time. Congrats!

The question was:
There's a highly-coveted lapel pin, flown on every mission, that is given out by the astronauts to those who have been instrumental in the success of their missions. What is it called?

Answer: Silver Snoopy

If you'd like to play future trivia games, you can
sign up for the email newsletter and have a chance to win prizes, too.

Congratulations!

Cosmosphere on AAA Blog

Kevin Crockett has written about the Cosmosphere on the AAA blog.

Thanks, Kevin and AAA!

http://www.aaatravelviews.com/post/2010/12/09/The-Kansas-Cosmosphere-and-Space-Center.aspx

Trivia Contest - Apollo Mission During Christmas

Anton Zouplna is our email newsletter trivia winner this time. Congrats!

The question was:
Name an Apollo Mission that was in orbit during Christmas.

Answer: Apollo 8

If you'd like to play future trivia games, you can
sign up for the email newsletter and have a chance to win prizes, too.

Congratulations!

Coffee at the Cosmo December 16 - Barbie Loves Buzz: Space Toys

Coffee at the Cosmo on Thursday, December 16, is entitled, “Barbie Loves Buzz: Space Toys.” It is at 9 a.m. at the Cosmosphere and is free and open to the public.

One of Barbie’s careers was as an Astronaut, Snoopy was the first beagle on the moon – arriving months before man got there, and Buzz Lightyear is travelling to infinity and beyond. Since the earliest days of the space program, toys have been a part of the pop-culture representations. You’ll have a chance to look at toys from the last five decades and see how space-themed toys have fueled the imagination.

Coffee at the Cosmo is an ongoing series of free presentations at the Cosmosphere. It’s the third Thursday of every month at 9 a.m. and is always free. Enjoy coffee and pastries, meet new friends, and learn something new.

Upcoming Topics Include:
January 20, 2011 “The Sacrifice of Exploration: Tragedy in Space Flight”
February 17, 2011 “Snoopy Soars with NASA: Exhibit Preview”
March 17, 2011 “Going Green in Space”

The Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing patrons' knowledge of space exploration. Educating people from around the globe, the Cosmosphere boasts the Hall of Space museum, one of the most significant collections of U.S. and Russian space artifacts in the world; the Justice Planetarium, a dome-shaped classroom where attendees learn about astronomy; Dr. Goddard's Lab, a live demonstration of early rocket technology; the Carey IMAX® Dome Theater, one of the first ones built in the world; and summer astronaut training camps. For more information visit cosmo.org.

Brand Names in Space at Coffee at the Cosmo

Coffee at the Cosmo on Thursday, November 18, is entitled, “To Boldly Go Where No Product Has Gone Before: Brand Names in Space.” It is at 9 a.m. at the Cosmosphere and is free and open to the public.


Tang and Velcro weren’t the only brand name products that flew into space. You might have items on your pantry shelves that bear the same names as those that made it into orbit. Learn about some of them, and get a look at artifacts not currently on display.

Coffee at the Cosmo is an ongoing series of free presentations at the Cosmosphere. It’s the third Thursday of every month at 9 a.m. and is always free. Enjoy coffee and pastries, meet new friends, and learn something new.



Upcoming Topics Include:

December 16, 2010 “Barbie Loves Buzz: Space Toys”

January 20, 2011 “The Sacrifice of Exploration: Tragedy in Space Flight”

February 17, 2011 “Snoopy Soars with NASA: Exhibit Preview”

A Christmas Carol at the Cosmosphere

“A Christmas Carol,” starring Jim Carrey, is the holiday movie at the Cosmosphere’s Carey IMAX dome theater. This classic has been reinterpreted with some Disney magic, but is still the heartwarming story we all know. It opens Friday, November 26.

Charles Dickens’ beloved tale is a great way to make memories this season for the whole family. When three ghosts take penny-pinching Scrooge on an eye-opening journey, he discovers the true meaning of Christmas -- but he must act on it before it's too late.

Even if you’ve seen this before, being surrounded by it in the dome will be a new experience. “A Christmas Carol” is timeless, and perfect for all ages. Make a holiday movie at the Cosmosphere part of your family tradition.

Teachers' Night Out

Teachers' Night Out at the Cosmosphere is set for November 12. It's free. Contact laurieg@cosmo.org to reserve your spot. Sponsored by Kansas Gas Service, a division of ONEOK.

Trivia Contest - Lunar Rovers

Our email newsletter trivia question was:

On which missions were lunar rovers used?
Answer: Apollo 15, 16 and 17

The first correct answer came from Betsy C. Ross.

If you'd like to play future trivia games, you can
sign up for the email newsletter and have a chance to win prizes, too.

Congratulations, Betsy!

Buz Carpenter Back at the Cosmosphere by Popular Demand

Former SR-71 pilot "Buz" Carpenter will be making a return visit to the Cosmosphere by popular demand on November 6. Carpenter flew the Blackbird now housed at the Cosmosphere and will speak about the plane and his experiences piloting it. He will speak November 6 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. It is free and open to the public. He will sign autographs following the presentations.

Carpenter accrued 777 hours flying SR-71 planes, including 961, which resides at the Cosmosphere. He flew Blackbirds as an aircraft commander and later as an instructor pilot, with over 60 operational missions. He also flew in the C-141, RF-4C, and T-38 planes, flying 150 combat hours in Vietnam. The Cosmosphere also has a T-38 on display.

Carpenter worked in the Pentagon and served as Wing commander at Ramstein Air Base in German during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He retired as a Colonel after serving as the 2nd Air Force Vice Commander, responsible for all the USAF Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance flying assets. He is currently a docent for the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum.

Only 32 Blackbirds were ever made, and they were in service from 1964-1998. Despite over 4,000 attempts to shoot them down, none of the planes were lost due to enemy fire. However, 12 of them were destroyed in accidents. The plane was designed to be one of the first planes not detectable by radar. Unfortunately, radar technology was advancing at a rate that outpaced that particular design feature.

The great defensive ability of the plane was its high speed and altitude. Standard evasive action was just to accelerate, which made it almost invulnerable to the attack technologies of the time. The top speed of the plane was mach 3.3 (2,200 miles/hour or 26 miles/minute). In 1990, during a speed test, an SR-71 flew from LA to Dulles Airport in 64 minutes. They flew faster than a bullet from a standard 30.06 hunting rifle.

The SR-71 was American's first "stealth" plane, and was the last one designed with a slide rule. At cruising speeds, the aircraft skin reached average temperatures of about 600F. This caused the aircraft to grow 3-4 inches in length and 1-2 inches in width. The engine area was 3200F, with the coolest parts of the plane being about 450F. The 2.5 inch thick laminated quartz glass pilot window was 620F.

Pilots wore pressure suits derived from the Gemini designs through the mid 70s. The replacement pressure suit in the late 70s served as the initial Space Shuttle suits for test flights.

The Blackbird generally leveled off around 75,000 feet, and as fuel burned off would climb up around 82-85,000 feet. At 80,000 feet, you can see the curvature of the Earth about 500 miles in all directions.

Rocketober-Fest at Cosmosphere October 23

Rocketober-Fest at the Cosmosphere on Saturday, October 23, is an afternoon of fun for the entire family. It's from 1-4 p.m.

Activities will include making buttons and solar system bracelets, experiencing the 4-G simulator and watching weird science demos. Kids will also be able to launch their own air rockets and enjoy liquid oxygen ice cream, as well as other activities.

Come in your space or alien-themed costume and enter the costume contest. Downtown Hutchinson and Walmart are providing gift cards for the winners. Register for the contest by 2 that day.

Some items require a Rocketober-Fest ticket, and some are free and open to the public.

Free Science Demonstrations during the day

Ticket Prices are as follows:

Red tickets - get 7 tickets for $1
each of the following activities require one ticket
button
solar system bracelet
temporary tattoo
coloring
ornament
liquid oxygen ice cream
air rockets

White tickets cost $2
One white ticket required to get your photo taken in a space suit

Blue tickets cost $4
One blue ticket is required to experience the 4-G simulator

Tickets will be available at the door.

Coffee at the Cosmo October 21 - Man on the Moon on the Move: Lunar Rovers

Coffee at the Cosmo on Thursday, October 21, is entitled, “Man on the Moon on the Move: Lunar Rovers.” It is at 9 a.m. at the Cosmosphere and is free and open to the public.

Comedian Jerry Seinfeld joked, “Only a man would go 240,000 miles and take a car to drive around some more.” While he thought it was to try and impress women, come to the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center and hear the real reasons we took a “car” to the moon, learn how it operated, and as always, see fascinating artifacts directly related to the Lunar Rover.

Coffee at the Cosmo is an ongoing series of free presentations at the Cosmosphere. It’s the third Thursday of every month at 9 a.m. and is always free. Enjoy coffee and pastries, meet new friends, and learn something new.

Upcoming Topics Include:
November 18, 2010 “To Boldly Go Where No Product Has Gone Before: Brand Names in Space”
December 16, 2010 “Barbie Loves Buzz: Space Toys”
January 20, 2011 “The Sacrifice of Exploration: Tragedy in Space Flight”

The Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing patrons' knowledge of space exploration. Educating people from around the globe, the Cosmosphere boasts the Hall of Space museum, one of the most significant collections of U.S. and Russian space artifacts in the world; the Justice Planetarium, a dome-shaped classroom where attendees learn about astronomy; Dr. Goddard's Lab, a live demonstration of early rocket technology; the Carey IMAX® Dome Theater, one of the first ones built in the world; and summer astronaut training camps. For more information visit cosmo.org.

Trivia Contest - The Blue Marble

Our email newsletter trivia question today is:

On what mission was the famous "blue marble" photo of Earth taken?

Answer: Apollo 17

Congratulations to: Kent Wolfe who had the first correct answer

The crew of Apollo 17 took the photo on December 7, 1972 at 4:39 a.m. CST, a few hours after launch. The astronauts thought Earth looked like a glass marble, which led to the name.

The Blue Marble is probably the most widely distributed image in human history. It was the first clear image of an illuminated face of Earth.

The photograph's official NASA designation is AS17-148-22727. It is credited to the entire Apollo 17 crew of Eugene Cernan, Ronald Evans and Jack Schmitt. They all took photos with the on-board Hasselblad. Jack Schmitt probably took the famous image, but that cannot be verified. It was taken with the south at the top of the photo, but was rotated before being released.

This was the last time any human has been at a range where taking a whole-Earth photograph such as The Blue Marble would be possible.

The original caption read:
"View of the Earth as seen by the Apollo 17 crew traveling toward the moon. This translunar coast photograph extends from the Mediterranean Sea area to the Antarctica south polar ice cap. This is the first time the Apollo trajectory made it possible to photograph the south polar ice cap. Note the heavy cloud cover in the Southern Hemisphere. Almost the entire coastline of Africa is clearly visible. The Arabian Peninsula can be seen at the northeastern edge of Africa. The large island off the coast of Africa is Madagascar. The Asian mainland is on the horizon toward the northeast."

If you'd like to play future trivia games, you can sign up for the email newsletter and have a chance to win prizes, too.

Free Admission to the Hall of Space Museum on September 25 during Smithsonian Museum Day

The Cosmosphere is participating in Museum Day on September 25. Sponsored by Smithsonian Media, this is the sixth annual Museum Day. Participating museums across the country open their doors for free to anyone presenting a Museum Day Ticket.

As the only Smithsonian Affiliate in Kansas, the Cosmosphere is proud to participate by offering free admission to the Hall of Space Museum on Sept. 25.

The Museum Day Ticket provides free admission to the Hall of Space museum for one person, plus a guest.

Please note that due to space limitations, other venues at the Cosmosphere; including the Carey Imax Dome Theatre, Dr. Goddard's Lab and the Planetarium, are not part of the free admission. Tickets can be purchased separately for those venues.

• One ticket per household

• A ticket will gain entry in only one museum and only participating museums

• Only an official Museum Day ticket is eligible for free entry.

Official tickets can be found on the Museum Day website.

Read more: http://microsite.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/index.html#ixzz0vBWjDYYl

For tickets: http://microsite.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/admission.html?2010

"Aliens of the Deep" Opens September 20 at Cosmosphere

“Aliens of the Deep” takes you to some of the Earth's deepest, most extreme and unknown environments in search of the strange and alien creatures that live there. In this James Cameron film you journey to the ocean floor with a team of young NASA scientists and marine biologists who discuss how the unusual life found there may represent what we might encounter in space. It’s the most alien environment to be found on Earth so good training for those who will be traveling beyond the bounds of our atmosphere.

“Aliens of the Deep” was filmed during multiple expeditions. Visit underwater volcanic regions and see new ocean floor being created. These hydrothermal vent sites create plumes of super-heated, chemically-charged water where creatures never before seen are flourishing.

Six-foot tall worms with blood-red plumes and no stomach, blind white crabs, and a biomass of shrimp capable of "seeing" heat, all compete to find just the right location in the flow of the water. All other life on Earth is dependent on sunlight, but these ecosystems are as close to alien as we’re likely to find on Earth. The environment provides fertile training ground for people destined for space exploration, as they encounter life forms unlike anything they already know.

Coffee at the Cosmo September 16

Coffee at the Cosmo on Thursday, September 16, is entitled, “Like an Old Pair of Slippers: Comfortable In-Flight Clothing in Space.” It is at 9 a.m. at the Cosmosphere and is free and open to the public.

Astronauts have always had special clothing needs. The iconic spacesuit and helmet they used when walking on the moon would be cumbersome and impractical while travelling in space. From the early years of the space program, astronauts have had “in-flight” garments designed for comfort and ease of use.

They have ranged from a modified pair of long underwear used on an early mission, to the jumpsuits, shorts and t-shirts we’re accustomed to seeing on the International Space Station today. During this Coffee at the Cosmo we’ll look at the history of in-flight garments and talk about the challenges presented when trying to keep the astronauts safe and yet allow them to have full range of movement.

Coffee at the Cosmo is an ongoing series of free presentations at the Cosmosphere. It’s the third Thursday of every month at 9 a.m. and is always free. Enjoy coffee and pastries, meet new friends, and learn something new.

Upcoming Coffee Topics Include:
October 21, 2010 "Man on the Moon on the Move: Lunar Rovers"
November 18, 2010 "To Boldly Go Where No Product Has Gone Before: Brand Names in Space"
December 16, 2010 "Barbie Loves Buzz: Space Toys"

The Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing patrons' knowledge of space exploration. Educating people from around the globe, the Cosmosphere boasts the Hall of Space museum, one of the most significant collections of U.S. and Russian space artifacts in the world; the Justice Planetarium, a dome-shaped classroom where attendees learn about astronomy; Dr. Goddard's Lab, a live demonstration of early rocket technology; the Carey IMAX® Dome Theater, one of the first ones built in the world; and summer astronaut training camps. For more information visit cosmo.org.

Cosmosphere Starry Night Party August 28, 2010

The Starry Night Party is set for August 28, beginning at 6 p.m. at Hobart-Detter field in Carey Park. Sponsored by the Cosmosphere, the free Starry Night Party includes rocket demonstrations, geocaching, face-painting, an inflatable moon walk and more.

Kids will have the opportunity to make buttons and solar system bracelets, launch water balloons, get gliders and see amazing science demonstrations including a geyser from soda pop and candy. The Cosmosphere will be making liquid oxygen ice cream and serving it at 6:30. Later, Eric Olson of Tucson will be speaking about meteorites, and the evening will conclude with star gazing.

More than a dozen telescopes will be set up so people can see the night sky. The International Space Station will be passing over Hutchinson twice that evening as well. People who have telescopes can bring them out to Carey Park and have Cosmosphere experts demonstrate how to get the most out of them.

All of these activities are free. There’s something for every age group. In addition, concessions and a mobile gift shop will be available. Last year about 900 people attended the Starry Night Party.

Cosmosphere Bus Gets Wrapped

Lowen Corporation wrapped the Cosmosphere bus last week. We think it turned out great. Thanks, Lowen!

Starry Night Volunteer Needs

Call Janet Fisher for more information at 620-665-9340, or sign up online at:
http://www1.mysignup.com/cgi-bin/view.cgi?datafile=starrynight

Starry Night Volunteer Needs
August 28, 2010 – Hobart Detter Field in Carey Park
Event runs from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Front Gate
Need three people to at front gate to welcome people and get them to sign up for drawings.
5:30 – 8:30 p.m. is the time you need to be available

Moon Walk Inflatable
Need two people to oversee this – making sure not too many kids in at a time.
5:45 – 8:45 p.m. is the time you need to be available

Air Rockets
Need four people to work with education staff. Volunteers will help kids build their air rockets. This will involve gluing on fins and attaching nose cones, then helping package up remaining items afterwards.
6 – 9 p.m. is the time you need to be available

Solar system bracelets
Need four people to work with education staff to help kids make solar system bracelets. Education staff will explain each bead represents a planet.
5:45 – 8:45 p.m. is the time you need to be available

Gliders
Need two people to help hand out gliders to kids. Education will have someone to explain the principles involved.
6 – 9 p.m. is the time you need to be available

Buttons
Need five people to make buttons. Kids will color/decorate the paper, then it will be pressed into a pin-back button onsite. Volunteers will be taught to make buttons (simple process) so they can trade off during the night.
5:45 – 8:45 p.m. is the time you need to be available

Tattoos
Need two people to apply temporary tattoos to kids. They use a sponge with water to put them on. We’ll provide all the materials.
6 – 9 p.m. is the time you need to be available

Water balloon launch
Need five volunteers - 2 to launch, 2 to make balloons, 1 to help kid launch. This is a splash zone job! You will get wet! People can trade off jobs, but we need a couple of people to get started early making balloons.

2 volunteers to make balloons
5:30-8:00 p.m.

3 to launch and help kids launch
6 – 8:30 p.m.