TaareWiki | Site / July 2010

Visit of NASA Astronaut Joan Higginbotham

At 11:00 AM on the 6th of July 2010

The Nehru Planetarium, Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, is organising an interaction of NASA astronaut Joan Higginbotham, with the students of Delhi. The Pune based organisation Mission Apollo, and the Delhi based NGO - Science Popularisation Association of Communicators and Educators (S.P.A.C.E.), is co-ordinating with the planetarium in terms of the visit of the astronaut and bringing this opportunity to the notice of school students with an interest in astronomy and space sciences.

Joan Higginbotham was the third Afro American woman in space. She is the recipient of NASA exceptional service medal as well as many other honours and awards. During her tenure at the Kennedy Space Center and before her selection as an astronaut, she actively participated in 53 space shuttle launches. Her spaceflight mission STS-116 duration was 12 days, 20 hours and 45 minutes

Joan Higginbotham was in this space mission with Sunita Williams.

Joan Higginbotham was also a close friend of Kalpana Chawla.

The thirst for a close encounter with the conditions in the microgravity environment of outer space through an interaction with the lucky and the brave few who have escaped the gravity of Earth is universal and this thirst is especially intense amongst Indian students. All such interested are invited to register their names for participation, by sending an e-mail to nehruplanetarium@gmail.com or info@space-india.org

Schedule of events

At 11:30 AM - Arrival of Joan Higginbotham, to the auditorium of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library

Welcome and Introduction of Joan Higginbotham – 11.30 – 11.35am

Welcome and address to students by Prof. Mridula Mukherjee, Director, Nehru Memorial Museum and Library

Speech by Mr. Sandeep Joshi – 11.35 - 11.40 am Speech by Mr. Chris Barber -11.40-11.45 am Speech by Mr. Sachin Bamba, S.P.A.C.E. - 11:45-11:50 AM

Lecture & presentation by Joan Higginbotham – 11.50 – 12.50pm

Question/Answer Session – 12.50 – 1.15pm - Co-ordinated by C. B. Devgun, President, S.P.A.C.E.

Vote of thanks by Dr. Rathnasree, Director, Nehru Planetarium, Nehru Memorial Museum and Library – 1.15 – 1.20pm

The event will also be webcast.

The webcast can be accessed here, from 11:00 AM on the 6th of July, here