To infinity and beyond. This is the belief Teresa Vanhooser and NASA share about space flight.
But before traveling the cosmos, NASA wants to visit a familiar friend — the moon.
Vanhooser is the deputy manager of the Ares Project Office at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville.
In the speech Vanhooser gave Thursday, “Launching to the Moon,” she lectured on the importance of revisiting the moon and the means on how NASA plans accomplish this.
“We still have a lot to learn about the moon, and we have explored very little,” Vanhooser said. “It’s very important for us to go back and learn as much as we can about the moon. It’s also important to make sure we can live off the resources of an environment closer to Earth.”
Vanhooser also stressed NASA’s view of the importance of safety during space missions.
“If we don’t fly the shuttle safely, then we have a whole lot of other challenges ahead of us,” Vanhooser said. “Our No. 1 goal is to provide whatever support is needed to be able to fly the shuttle safely.”
Vanhooser mentioned NASA’s other goals, including finishing the International Space Station and building a new crew-launch vehicle that will support the space station and take a crew of astronauts to the moon.
Also speaking, was Tom Williams, manager of the Propulsion Systems Department at the Marshall Space Flight Center. Williams.
Williams, an Auburn graduate, directs the development of integrated propulsion products and services for the next generation of space transportation and propulsion systems.
Williams stressed how important exploration is to every individual and nation.
He included examples of important explorations, such as Lewis and Clark’s expedition out West and Columbus’ discovery of America in his speech.
Williams used these examples to support his argument about needing a new space exploration vehicle.
This means moving away from the space-plane design, which can only go into lower-Earth orbit and move toward a new capsule design, like the Ares I and V.
“In order to explore Mars or other planets, we are going to require a new vehicle,” Williams said. “For us to do that at NASA, with a fixed budget, we’re going to have to make compromises and sacrifices.”
Among those who attended the speech was Terry O’Conner, a freshman in civil engineering.
Even though O’Conner had little interest in the space flight, he found the speech interesting.
“I found out a lot of information I didn’t know,” O’Conner said. “I didn’t realize that the space shuttle was going to be done in two years. All the new developments (NASA) is working on are very interesting.”
Both Vanhooser and Williams said the future of NASA relies on the students who are preparing for their careers today.
Vanhooser said NASA does have a co-op program at all of its centers, and it also provides internships and fellowships.
Williams believes working with NASA is more fulfilling than just making money.
He believes it’s about making a difference.
“What NASA is about is making life better for people on Earth, not just this country,” Williams said. “A lot of people come to NASA because we want to be a part of something bigger than the individual and something a little more noble than earning the almighty dollar.”
