NASA Space Shuttle Crew to visit Dartmouth

Posted 05/06/02

Members of the Hubble Telescope repair team to speak on May 22

Five astronauts, recently returned from space where they repaired portions of the Hubble Space Telescope, will speak and show a video about their mission at a free, public presentation on Wednesday, May 22, at 7 p.m. at Dartmouth's Leede Arena.

The astronauts, among them 1978 Dartmouth graduate James Newman, were all part of mission STS-109. In March, they spent 12 days in space where they completed five space walks to repair the 12-year-old telescope. On April 30, NASA released new images taken by the refurbished Hubble. These clear, beautiful images, along with all the new scientific data they provide, are evidence that the astronauts' mission was a success. The improved images will help researchers explore the far reaches of space, looking back to the beginning of the universe.

In addition to Newman, visiting STS-109 crew includes commander Scott Altman, payload commander John Grunsfeld, pilot Duane Carey and mission specialist Rick Linnehan. Altman and Linnehan both accompanied Jay Buckey, Research Associate Professor at Dartmouth Medical School, on the Neurolab Space Shuttle mission in April 1998.

The presentation at 7 p.m. on May 22 is free and open to the general public. The doors of Leede Arena will open at 6 p.m. For more information, please call 603/646-0535. Their visit is sponsored by Dartmouth College, Humanitates Vitae, the Thayer School of Engineering and Creare Inc.

Mission Specialist James Newman during a space walk on the second day of extravehicular activity. Part of the giant Hubble telescope's base, latched down in the payload bay, can be seen behind Newman.