Filmed April 2020 Who is Thomas Zurbuchen? DR. THOMAS ZURBUCHEN is NASA’s Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate. Scientific discovery is one of humanity’s most important endeavors. Using the tools of exploration, we can better understand our world and our universe and ultimately learn more about ourselves. All discovery is interconnected, and no important question stands alone. Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen is tasked with helping us answer some of humanity’s biggest questions: Where did we come from? Are we alone? How does the universe work? On a daily basis, Zurbuchen works to ensure that NASA’s science missions build partnerships across disciplines and with industry and other nations to generate new questions and help advance the frontiers of knowledge and exploration. He brings a wealth of scientific research, engineering experience and hands-on knowledge to NASA’s world-class team of scientists and engineers. During his career, Zurbuchen has authored or co-authored more than 200 articles in peer reviewed journals in solar and heliospheric phenomena. He earned his doctorate and Master of Science degrees in physics from the University of Bern in Switzerland. His honors include multiple NASA ground achievement awards, induction as a member of the International Academy of Astronautics, a NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, and the 2018 Heinrich-Greinacher prize, the leading science-related recognition from the University of Bern. Zurbuchen engages people worldwide with NASA’s work and the inspiration of science. NEAF Talks brings you the best from the annual NEAF Space & Astronomy conference which is held just outside of New York City at the RCC campus of the State University of NY. The Northeast Astronomy Forum is in its 25th year and is a world renowned symposium which annually searches the globe for the most relevant personalities who are making space, science and astronomy history today. Now through NEAF Talks online, these outstanding lectures are available to classrooms, universities, professionals, and the world at-large free of charge. Visit RocklandAstronomy.com\NEAF for more information or to learn how to see NEAF live. NEAF Talks- supporting science and astronomy education for a quarter century, now free to the world via the web. Like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Northeast-Astronomy-Forum-Space-Expo-504029046447061/

Filmed April 2020 In April 2018, the University of Chicago indicated they were closing the Yerkes Observatory. The observatory, often referred to as "the birthplace of modern astrophysics" was founded in 1897 by astronomer George Ellery Hale. The observatory houses a 40-inch diameter Alvin Clarke doublet refracting telescope with an equatorial mount by Warner & Swasey. It is the largest refractor to be successfully used for astronomy. In addition, the observatory houses a collection of over 170,000 photographic glass plates. Yerkes Observatory is not only an iconic symbol in astronomy’s history but also represents a major milestone in the evolution of modern astronomy and our understanding of the universe. In 2018 the Yerkes Future Foundation was formed by a group of concerned citizens to save this iconic structure from certain demise by developers. For over a year, the group has been negotiating with the University of Chicago, which owns the observatory with the intent to save the facility and reopen it for public observing. Thanks to Dianna Colman and her colleagues efforts, the University of Chicago said, this past Nov that it had reached “an agreement in principle” with the Yerkes Future Foundation to take over ownership and maintenance of the observatory. Who is Dianna Colman? DIANNA COLMAN is the Chair of the Yerkes Future Foundation. A Harvard graduate and resident of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, the Colman home lies on the border between Lake Geneva and Williams Bay, the location of Yerkes Observatory. Dianna has had one foot in each community for as long as she has been there — for years she was involved at Central Dennison School in Lake Geneva, showing works of art to children and teaching about both the art and the artist. Raising money for the Town of Linn was only one of her many fundraising projects. She is a master of philanthropy and fundraising. She is an excellent negotiator and an expert at planning. Her involvement with Yerkes started in April 2018 when the University of Chicago indicated they were closing the observatory. After an initial community meeting, Dianna said that “she’d been up all night worrying about the fate of the building. Even though her plate was full with other projects, Dianna stepped up to chair the historical preservation. NEAF Talks brings you the best from the annual NEAF Space & Astronomy conference which is held just outside of New York City at the RCC campus of the State University of NY. The Northeast Astronomy Forum is in its 25th year and is a world renowned symposium which annually searches the globe for the most relevant personalities who are making space, science and astronomy history today. Now through NEAF Talks online, these outstanding lectures are available to classrooms, universities, professionals, and the world at-large free of charge. Visit RocklandAstronomy.com\NEAF for more information or to learn how to see NEAF live. NEAF Talks- supporting science and astronomy education for a quarter century, now free to the world via the web. Like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Northeast-Astronomy-Forum-Space-Expo-504029046447061/

Filmed April 2020 The Mount Wilson Observatory located in the San Gabriel Mountains near Pasadena, northeast of Los Angeles contains two historically important telescopes: the 100-inch Hooker telescope, which was the largest aperture telescope in the world from its completion in 1917 to 1949, and the 60-inch telescope which was the largest operational telescope in the world when it was completed in 1908. It also contains the Snow solar telescope completed in 1905, the 60 foot solar tower completed in 1908, the 150 foot solar tower completed in 1912. Sam Hale will discuss the history of Mount Wilson, its legacy and its future along with his grandfathers amazing accomplishments. Who is Sam Hale? SAMUEL D. HALE is the Chief Executive Officer of Mount Wilson Observatory and is the grandson of George Ellery Hale. George Ellery Hale (June 29, 1868 – February 21, 1938) was an American solar astronomer and the key figure in the planning and construction of the first modern American observatories; namely, the 40-inch refracting telescope at Yerkes Observatory, 60-inch Hale reflecting telescope at Mount Wilson Observatory, 100-inch Hooker reflecting telescope at Mount Wilson, and the 200-inch Hale reflecting telescope at Palomar Observatory. He also played a key role in the foundation of the International Union for Cooperation in Solar Research and the National Research Council, and in developing the California Institute of Technology into a leading research university. NEAF Talks brings you the best from the annual NEAF Space & Astronomy conference which is held just outside of New York City at the RCC campus of the State University of NY. The Northeast Astronomy Forum is in its 25th year and is a world renowned symposium which annually searches the globe for the most relevant personalities who are making space, science and astronomy history today. Now through NEAF Talks online, these outstanding lectures are available to classrooms, universities, professionals, and the world at-large free of charge. Visit RocklandAstronomy.com\NEAF for more information or to learn how to see NEAF live. NEAF Talks- supporting science and astronomy education for a quarter century, now free to the world via the web. Like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Northeast-Astronomy-Forum-Space-Expo-504029046447061/

NEAF 2020 Virtual Experience. We will be live at Rockland Community College on September 12th & 13th for our usual NEAF event.  We hope to see you all there! Discovery by Scott Buckley https://soundcloud.com/scottbuckley Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported  — CC BY 3.0  Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/discovery-scott-buckley Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/M8ZwIybVy3o

Filmed April 2019 One of 18 seamstresses in this critical role, Jean and her co-workers dubbed their group, “The Sew Sisters,” – using machine and hand stitching to build, create and repair thermal protection flight hardware and parachutes for the space shuttle and Orion! Who is Jean Wright? JEAN WRIGHT currently works as a Docent at the Shuttle Atlantis exhibit, educating and entertaining guests at the KSC Visitor Complex. She is also a member of NASA’s Speakers Bureau who represent NASA at civic, professional, educational and public events – as well as launch support and VIP Tours as needed including a recent special tour for NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. Jean also gives invited lectures including as keynote speaker at the MQX Quilt Festival in 2018, Women’s History Month at KSCVC in 2018, and Family Day at the Udvar-Hazy National Air & Space Museum in 2016. Jean has also done many radio interviews and been the subject of magazine and newspaper articles.One of the biggest thrills of her life was being asked by Mark Armstrong to cut and prepare for auction, pieces of historic muslin fabric from the Wright Brothers 1903 Flyer that his father, Neil Armstrong, carried to the moon aboard the Apollo 11 Lunar Module! NEAF Talks brings you the best from the annual NEAF Astronomy & Space conference which is held just outside of New York City at the RCC campus of the State University of New York. The Northeast Astronomy Forum is in its 26th year and is a world-renowned symposium which annually searches the globe for the most relevant personalities who are making space, science and astronomy history today. Now through NEAF Talks online, these outstanding lectures are available to classrooms, universities, professionals and the world- free of charge. Visit RocklandAstronomy.com/NEAF for more information or to learn how to see NEAF live. NEAF Talks- supporting science and astronomy education for a quarter century, now free to the world via the web. Like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Northeast-As...

Filmed April 2019 Scientists believe that the Moon was formed out of a collision between the Earth with a Mars sized planet named Theia at a very early stage of the development of the solar system. From then on, the Earth and the Moon’s evolution have been intertwined. The Moon has kept the Earth’s rotational axis pointing in the same direction providing a significant level of stability for the Earth’s climate. Scientifically there has been a number of stunning advances in lunar science and a realization that going back to the Moon will provide scientists with a greater understanding of origin and evolution of our solar system. NASA’s future plan is to go to the Moon to stay and then onto Mars. Who is Jim Green? DR. JIM GREEN is NASA’s Chief Scientist who focuses on NASA’s strategic science objectives. He was previously the director of the Planetary Science Division at NASA Headquarters since 2006. During his 12 years in this role, he managed numerous successful missions from Mercury to Pluto that have ushered in a golden age of planetary exploration. These missions include: the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter; Mars rovers Spirit, Opportunity and Curiosity; and the New Horizons mission to Pluto and beyond just to mention a few. Dr. Green received his Ph.D. in Space Physics from the University of Iowa in 1979 and began working at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in 1980. Dr. Green’s numerous awards include NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal, Arthur S. Flemming award, and Japan’s Kotani Prize in 1996 in recognition of his international science data management activities. NEAF Talks brings you the best from the annual NEAF Astronomy & Space conference which is held just outside of New York City at the RCC campus of the State University of New York. The Northeast Astronomy Forum is in its 26th year and is a world-renowned symposium which annually searches the globe for the most relevant personalities who are making space, science and astronomy history today. Now through NEAF Talks online, these outstanding lectures are available to classrooms, universities, professionals and the world- free of charge. Visit RocklandAstronomy.com/NEAF for more information or to learn how to see NEAF live. NEAF Talks- supporting science and astronomy education for a quarter century, now free to the world via the web. Like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Northeast-As...

Filmed April 2019 On 1 January 2019 the NASA New Horizons mission made the first exploration of a Kuiper Belt Object, 2014 MU69, informally known as Ultima Thule (UT). NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft, which made the first exploration of the Kuiper Belt dwarf planet Pluto and its system of moons on 14 July 2015, has now also made the first exploration of a primordial planetary building block in the Kuiper Belt, on 1 January 2015. That object is known as 2014 MU69(henceforth MU69).This talk will summarize the New Horizons mission, the technical challenges of our just completed flyby, and its the major results from the first exploration of a Kuiper Belt Object. Who is Alan Stern? DR. S. ALAN STERN is a planetary scientist, space program executive, aerospace consultant, and author. In 2007 and 2008, Dr. Stern served as NASA’s chief of space and Earth science programs, directing a $4.4B organization with 93 separate flight missions and a program of over 3,000 research grants. Dr. Stern is the Principal Investigator (PI) of NASA’s $720M New Horizon’s Pluto-Kuiper Belt mission. Before receiving his doctorate in astrophysics from the University of Colorado in 1989, Dr. Stern completed two master’s degrees in aerospace engineering and atmospheric sciences. Dr. Stern also holds two undergraduate degrees in physics and astronomy from the University of Texas. NEAF Talks brings you the best from the annual NEAF Astronomy & Space conference which is held just outside of New York City at the RCC campus of the State University of New York. The Northeast Astronomy Forum is in its 26th year and is a world-renowned symposium which annually searches the globe for the most relevant personalities who are making space, science and astronomy history today. Now through NEAF Talks online, these outstanding lectures are available to classrooms, universities, professionals and the world- free of charge. Visit RocklandAstronomy.com/NEAF for more information or to learn how to see NEAF live. NEAF Talks- supporting science and astronomy education for a quarter century, now free to the world via the web. Like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Northeast-Astronomy-Forum-Space-Expo-504029046447061/

Filmed April 2019 Apollo 7 was the first crewed spaceflight of the Apollo program that went into space. ... Apollo 7 was essentially a test flight for manned spacecraft. Apollo 7 was launched from Cape Kennedy, Fla., at 11:02:45 a.m., EST, on October 11, 1968 from launch complex 34 on top of a Saturn IB. Apollo 7 carried a lunar module pilot, but no lunar module. Apollo 7 spent more time in space than all the Soviet space flights combined up to that time. The primary objectives for the Apollo 7 engineering test flight, were simple: "Demonstrate CSM/crew performance; demonstrate crew/space vehicle/mission support facilities performance during a manned CSM mission; demonstrate CSM rendezvous capability." Who is Walt Cunningham? WALT CUNNINGHAM was born in Creston, Iowa on March 16, 1932. He graduated from Venice High School in Venice, California. Cunningham joined the U.S. Navy in 1951, and began flight training in 1952. He served on active duty as a fighter pilot with the U.S. Marine Corps from 1953 until 1956, flying 54 missions as a night fighter pilot in Korea. From 1956 to 1975, he served in the Marine Corps Reserve, he retired at the rank of Colonel. Cunningham received his B.A. with honors in 1960, and his M.A. with distinction in 1961, both in physics, from the University of California, Los Angeles. He completed all requirements save for the dissertation for a Ph.D. in physics at UCLA during his time at RAND Corporation, where he spent three years prior his NASA selection. In October 1963, Cunningham was one of the third group of astronauts selected by NASA. On October 11, 1968, he occupied the Lunar Module Pilot seat for the eleven-day flight of Apollo 7, the first launch of a manned Apollo mission. The flight carried no Lunar Module and Cunningham was responsible for all spacecraft systems except launch and navigation. Cunningham went on to head up the Skylab Branch of the Astronaut Office and left NASA in 1971. He has accumulated more than 4,500 hours of flying time, including more than 3,400 in jet aircraft and 263 hours in space. In 1977, he published The All-American Boys, a reminiscence of his astronaut days. In 2008, NASA awarded Cunningham the NASA Distinguished Service Medal for his Apollo 7 mission. He is currently a radio talk show host and public speaker. Cunningham also works as a consultant to start-up technology companies and is chairman of the Texas Aerospace Commission. NEAF Talks brings you the best from the annual NEAF Astronomy & Space conference which is held just outside of New York City at the RCC campus of the State University of New York. The Northeast Astronomy Forum is in its 26th year and is a world-renowned symposium which annually searches the globe for the most relevant personalities who are making space, science and astronomy history today. Now through NEAF Talks online, these outstanding lectures are available to classrooms, universities, professionals and the world- free of charge. Visit RocklandAstronomy.com/NEAF for more information or to learn how to see NEAF live. NEAF Talks- supporting science and astronomy education for a quarter century, now free to the world via the web. Like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Northeast-Astronomy-Forum-Space-Expo-504029046447061/