Michael Griffin To Speak To Oshkosh Audience
NASA plans to continue its 50th anniversary celebration next
week, with special recognition at EAA AirVenture 2008. One of the
Experimental Aircraft Association activities commemorating five
decades of NASA's aerospace achievements will be an appearance by
NASA Administrator Michael Griffin.
"I'm looking forward to being part of the world of flight that
comes together each year at Oshkosh," said Griffin. "EAA has long
been a supporter of NASA, as we have a shared passion for
innovation and flight."
Griffin says his passion for flight is not just job-related. He
is also a pilot, who holds a flight instructor certificate with
instrument and multiengine ratings, and is co-owner of a small
aircraft.
Griffin is scheduled to speak on Tuesday, July 29 at 11:30 am
CDT, in Forum Pavilion 6 on the grounds of Wittman Regional
Airport. Visitors to EAA AirVenture also will be able to hear from
other current and former NASA employees in a number of locations
during the seven-day event. NASA will have a special anniversary
display in the EAA AirVenture Museum and a traveling exhibit parked
near Exhibits Hangar "E."
"NASA is proud to be able to display unique artifacts depicting
the history of NASA and U.S. spaceflight in the EAA AirVenture
Museum," said Jim Hull, NASA exhibit and artifact manager at NASA
Headquarters in Washington. "We will not only have objects from the
space program, but also from NASA aeronautics research that
visitors can enjoy."
Some of the artifacts include gloves from the Apollo era, space
shuttle tiles and tires, a launch entry suit and a Mars rover
model. Visitors to the museum also can view models of the
next-generation space vehicles, the ARES rockets and Orion capsule,
which are being developed to return humans to the moon. Also on
display will be an exhibit about NASA wind tunnels and wind tunnel
research.
A traveling display, called "Journey to Tomorrow," includes
interactive computer kiosks that feature NASA highlights. Examples
include "Celebrating 100 Years of Flight," which is about NASA's
contributions to the first century of powered flight; "Brain
Bites," which answers common questions about air and space travel;
and a lunar landing simulator. Additional workstations include a
planetary gravity demonstrator and a solar system scale where
visitors discover how much they would weigh on each of the
planets.
NASA's 50th anniversary also is being honored at other venues at
AirVenture, including EAA's Theater in the Woods. Former astronaut
Robert "Hoot" Gibson is planning to host a NASA birthday
celebration Wednesday evening, July 30, and former astronaut Joe
Engle and retired test pilot Fitz Fulton are scheduled to pay
tribute to 50 years of NASA aeronautics Saturday night, August
2.