Astronaut gives tour of International Space Station

June/July 2000

THIS ISSUE:

Research
NCUR Notes: Students showcase research and creative efforts at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research.

Biological Sciences
Dog Days of Summer: Aimee Hurt's bear scat study was made possible through IBS-CORE, a program that funds projects for undergraduate researchers.

Science
Montana Academy of Sciences: High school students and professionals from around the state are "part of a community," thanks to this science organization.

Joint effort: Astronaut Jerry Ross gives a tour of the International Space Station.

Briefs
Lost in Space Camp: Kids learned about rockets, teachers received GIS training and the public saw stunning NASA images at the Big Sky Rendez-Vous.

Rediscovering Lewis and Clark: A UM program will host a new National Lewis and Clark Education Center.

Out of the Classroom, Into the Field: Teachers spend part of their summer at UM, learning research skills in the Montana Teachers Investigate Ecology Project.

Exercising Minds: Montana students win big at Detroit's International Science and Engineering Fair.

INDEX:
Archives

Astronauts Jerry L. Ross (left) and James H. Newman, both mission specialists, work together on the final of three space walks of the STS-88 mission. One of the solar panels of the Russian-built Zarya module can be seen. (NASA photo)

Joint effort
Astronaut gives tour of
International Space Station

by Caroline Lupfer Kurtz
Slack jaws and bug eyes were the norm during Col. Jerry Ross’ video tour and talk about building the International Space Station.

His presentation was sponsored by the Montana Academy of Sciences and open to the public and NCUR attendees.

A 20-year NASA veteran, Ross was a mission specialist on STS-88, the 1998 shuttle mission that merged the first Russian and American components of the most ambitious space undertaking yet. The United States, Japan, Canada, Brazil and members of the European Space Agency, including England, Italy and France, are all partners in the venture.

“What we’re doing no one would do if they wanted success to be easy,” Ross said of the challenges such an international collaboration holds. “But it is extremely important to learn to work together in areas of importance to humankind. Once the space station is functioning and operational, we will have laid a very important foundation for the next generation to work with on an international mission to Mars.”

Old and young audience members were mesmerized by Ross’ bird’s-eye views of Earth and the astronauts dangling high above as they carried out their assignments.

“There are absolutely people walking around on Earth right now who will be the first to walk on Mars,” Ross says. “It’s just a matter of time.”

He added that some audience members might one day have the opportunity to go to work in offices on the space station or perhaps on the Moon or Mars. Going into space no longer requires being an Air Force pilot, he says. Instead, advanced education in a relevant field will be the ticket.

“Education is the future of our country and the world,” Ross says.