2018 Series Event
Jul 30-31, 2018 - Spring Grove, IL
Students Grades 8-12
Presenting Team
Greg H. Johnson a decorated fighter pilot, test pilot and Astronaut, flew as the Pilot of STS-123 (delivering the first part of the Japanese module Kibo to the International Space Station) and STS-134 (the final flight of Endeavour) and has completed nearly 500 orbits of Earth. Former President and Executive Director of the Center for Advancement of Science in Space, Johnson is vey familiar with science aboard the International Space Station. He is a huge advocate of STEM for students and is excited to be part of the Go For Launch! team.
Dr. Eric T. Baumgartner is the Vice President of Academics at the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) and provides strategic leadership across the units that support MSOE’s academic mission. Previously, he was the Dean of the T. J. Smull College of Engineering and Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Ohio Northern University (ONU) for eleven years. Prior to joining ONU, Dr. Baumgartner spent ten years at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, where he held a number of technical and management positions including a leadership role on the Mars Exploration Rover project that successfully launched, landed and operated the Spirit and Opportunity rovers on the Martian surface. He was honored with the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal in 2004 for his efforts on the Mars rover project and, in May 2008, Dr. Baumgartner, along with two of his colleagues at JPL, was presented with the 2008 IEEE Robotics and Automation Award.
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!
Presented in Partnership with:
Contact Details
Turtle Creek
7908 Winn Road
Spring Grove,, IL , 60081
