[AANC Contacts] Hubble Astronaut (and Astronomer) John Grunsfeld to Give Free Lecture Sep. 14 in Millbrae: Tickets Very Limited

[Andrew Fraknoi]

Special Announcement:

As part of its 121st Annual Meeting, the nonprofit
Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP) is proud to
present a free lecture, open to the public:

Dr. John Grunsfeld (NASA) will discuss
"Rescuing the Hubble: An Astronaut's Adventures in Space"

Monday, Sept. 14, 7:30 pm
Sequoia Ballroom
Westin San Francisco Airport Hotel
1 Bayshore Highway, Millbrae.

Seating is very limited. Free tickets will be available on a
first-come, first-served basis, starting Saturday, 9/12
at 8 am at the ASP registration table at the Westin
Hotel lobby.  Maximum of 4 tickets per person. (Note
there is no other way to get tickets than to come to
Millbrae.  We expect to run out early, but there will be
a line for non-ticket holders Monday evening, in
case any seats are not filled when the lecture is
about to start.)  Parking is not very easy this close
to the SF Airport, so arrive a bit early to make sure
you can find parking.

In May, 2009, NASA astronaut John Grunsfeld made
his fifth space shuttle flight and third visit to the Hubble
Space Telescope. Dr. Grunsfeld performed three
of the mission's five space walks that installed
two new instruments, repaired two others, and outfitted
the Hubble with new batteries, gyroscopes, fine guidance
sensors and thermal blankets. Dr. Grunsfeld will share his
and his crewmates' adventures, offering his insights on the
challenges and successes of the mission and what it
means for our continued exploration of the universe. (If
you ask, he may even tell you about the call he made
to the NPR radio show "Car Talk" from space.)

Dr. John Grunsfeld received his bachelor of science degree
in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
and his PhD. degree in physics from the University of Chicago.
Specializing in x-ray and gamma ray astronomy research
and the development of new instruments, he held several
academic positions including Senior Research Fellow at the
California Institute of Technology prior to his selection as
astronaut in 1992. Between 1995 and 2009, Dr. Grunsfeld
flew five shuttle missions, including a 16-day mission of
ultraviolet observations with the ASTRO observatory, the fifth
mission to the Russian Mir space station, and three
missions to the Hubble Space Telescope, including the final
servicing mission in 2009. He also served as NASA Chief
Scientist in 2003/04. Dr. Grunsfeld has logged more than
58 days in space, and 58 hours and 30 minutes of
extravehicular activity in eight space walks.

The Astronomical Society of the Pacific, founded in 1889, works
to increase the public understanding of astronomy (and
science literacy in general), through its programs, publications,
and web site.  For more information about the Society or its
121st meeting, which includes weekend programs for educators,
see: http://www.astrosociety.org



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Andrew Fraknoi, Chair, Astronomy Program
Foothill College, 12345 El Monte Rd.,
Los Altos Hills, CA 94022, USA

Telephone: (650) 949-7288
E-mail: fraknoiandrew at fhda.edu
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