The AIAA Division
Boys & Girls Club of Fitchburg & Leominster
Open to students from anywhere in grades 8-12.
Flyer graciously created & donated by: generous volunteer
Presenting Team
Team may be subject to change due to schedules.
Michelle Lucas spent 10+ years working at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. First as part of the International Space Station (ISS) Payload Safety Review Panel (PSRP) and then in the Mission Operations Directorate as a Flight Controller in ISS Mission Control and as an Astronaut Instructor in the ISS Daily Operations Group. Additionally, she worked with each of the International Partners (European Space Agency – ESA, Japanese Space Agency – JAXA, and the Russian Space Agency) in the field of Daily Operations, Flight Controller, and Instructor Training. Michelle was part of the Core NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO) team for 9 missions where astronauts would carry out analog space missions underwater in the Aquarius habitat. Along the way, Michelle found she has a passion for launching the next generation’s dreams and ambitions. Her passion for inspiring students led to extensive work with other organizations in STEM outreach so she founded the non-profit Higher Orbits to use space to excite and inspire students about STEM, Leadership, Teamwork, and Communication. Michelle is proud to be a Space Camp Alum, AIAA Associate Fellow, and member of the Space Camp Hall of Fame. She believes that collaboration in space and STEM is the key to the stars! Space Inspires!
For over 40 years, Bryan has had a passion about human spaceflight. From Apollo Soyuz to the ISS and beyond he has followed and learned about humans in space. In 2008, with the help of other liked minded passionate people he created One Giant leap Inc. Through One Giant Leap Inc, helps bring astronauts to our schools and community. Over 46,000 people of all ages have heard from astronauts since then and hopefully they have inspired many to “Reach For The Stars”. In addition, OGL helps promote math, science, human spaceflight and aviation through the use of exhibits and interaction using real artifacts that flew in space. By bringing the human touch to space travel, Bryan hopes to inspire the young to work hard, study and find what you want to do and go for it
Selected by NASA in January 1990, Dr. Thomas became an astronaut in July 1991. Dr. Thomas has served in the Safety, Operations Development, and Payloads Branches of the Astronaut Office. He was CAPCOM (spacecraft communicator) for Shuttle missions STS-47, 52 and 53. From July 1999 to June 2000 he was Director of Operations for NASA at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia. A veteran of four space flights, STS-65, STS-70, STS-83 and STS-94, he has logged over 1,040 hours in space as a Mission Specialist.
Contact Details
Boys & Girls Club of Fitchberg & Leominster 365 Lindell Ave Leominster, MA , 01453
