Events

Adventures in Space: The Next 50 Years

November 29, 2008 - View Space Theater in the Science Building
Presented by the National Space Society of North Texas and Museum of Nature & Science

Schedule

1:00–1:20 p.m.	The Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) NASA’s SDO mission will be taking a closer look at the Sun, the source of all Space Weather, in 2010. by Lt. Col. Cynthia Whisennand
2:00–2:20	International Space Station: The World’s Laboratory by Carol Johnson
2:30–2:50	NASA’s Constellation: On the Horizon by Carol Johnson
3:00–3:20	The New Moon A look at the lessons learned from Apollo and the new ways we're looking at the Moon. by Ken Murphy
4:00–4:20	Commercialization of Space: Solving Mankind’s Energy Needs by Lou Mazza

A Q&A session will follow every presentation. Schedule subject to change without notice.

Speakers

Carol Johnson
Carol Johnson is a founding member of NSS of North Texas and a co-chair of the International Space Development Conference held in Addison in June, 2007. She was a System Engineering Technical Project Manager for Lockheed Martin (formerly Loral Vought Systems) in Grand Prairie during the development of the Heat Rejection System (a.k.a. space radiators) for the International Space Station in the mid-1990s.

Lou Mazza
Lou Mazza is a financial analyst and an ardent space activist. He received his MBA at SMU and received an A on a paper where he described the advent of the Shuttle Age. Another paper described the coming space age as described by Dr O’Neil in his book “The High Frontier”. (Dr O’Neil and Dr Wehner von Braun were the founders of the National Space Society.) Today, Lou will discuss the commercialization of space and the solving of mankind’s energy needs.

Ken Murphy
Ken Murphy serves as president of the North Texas chapter of NSS for 2008-09, and is also a regional representative to the NSS Board of Directors. He maintains the online Lunar Library at OutoftheCradle.net, and was co-author of the Moon chapter of "Kids to Space". He is a 2001 graduate of International Space University, with a Master of Space Studies, cum laude. He also worked at the 2002 Goddard NASA Academy as program support and ISU liaison, getting a behind the scenes tour of NASA. He got to experience Lunar gravity on a Zero-G flight in 2004, and wants to do it again for real.

Lt. Col. Cynthia Whisennand
Lt .Col. Cynthia Whisennand, formerly the Texas Wing Director of Aerospace Education for the Civil Air Patrol, led Texas to place First for Aerospace Education in Southwest Region three years running. She attended Space Academy in Huntsville, Alabama, in 1988. She was chosen as a NEWEST Teacher in 1994 and served as a Director/Leader for the Young Astronaut Council in Texas, 1996-2000. For twelve years, she taught at the Irving ISD Summer Enrichment Camp program: a three week long program covering such topics as Astronauts, Solar System, Spacecraft, etc. In 1998, she presented at the National Congress on Aviation and Space Education and became an educator member of AIAA. In 2004, she taught at the National Aerospace Education Academy in Oshkosh, WI, and was chosen to be Solar System Ambassador by JPL. She is a proud member of the National Space Society. In her spare time, she is a Space Exploration and Weather badge counselor with the Boy Scouts of America. She has been a school librarian for 23 years.

About the National Space Society

NSS is an international non-profit organization (based in Washington, DC) and community of people who advocate the creation of a spacefaring civilization; understand the benefits that accrue from space exploration; promote further probing of the next frontier; and encourage commercial space enterprise, research, and development. For more information, go to www.nss.org.

About NSS of North Texas

Founded in 1987, NSS of North Texas (originally Mid-Cities NSS) is the local chapter of the National Space Society. Members actively pursue opportunities to educate the public on the benefits of living and working in space, discuss the latest space news, and enjoy comraderie at meetings and outings. Accomplishments include hosting the International Space Development Conference at the Hotel Intercontinental in Addison in June, 2007; rewriting the Boy Scouts’ Space Exploration Merit Badge Handbook in 2003; maintaining a Yahoo group (“NorthTexasSpace”) for space enthusiasts and organizations in the Dallas/Fort Worth area to share information and announce space-related events; and collecting space-themed toys and books for the annual Santa’s Helpers Toy Drive by WFAA-TV. For more information, go to www.nssnt.org.

Despereaux, the World’s Bravest Mouse, is coming to MNS and a Big Screen near you! FREE!

Kate DiCamillo’s Newbery Award winning book, The Tale of Despereaux, is brought to life on the animated big screen. Despereaux is the story of a young mouse that was born astoundingly brave. In a time of danger when all seems lost and fear is the rule, he is the exception. In this tale of bravery, forgiveness and redemption, one tiny creature will teach a kingdom that it takes only a little light to show that what you look like doesn’t equal what you are. Opening in theaters December 19.

Meet Despereaux (before the movie even opens!)

What:	Meet and Greet Despereaux! Enjoy photo ops and giveaways! T-shirts, posters, mouse ears, face masks and more (while supplies last). Bring your camera!
When:	Saturday, December 6 Despereaux will be meeting and greeting from 2:15-2:45 pm and again from 3:15-3:45 pm
Where:	Museum of Nature & Science, Science Building lobby
Who:	Children of all ages!
Cost:	FREE!

See The Tale of Despereaux

MNS Member-Only Special: FREE Tickets to the pre-public screening of The Tale of Despereaux on Saturday, December 13 at 11 am at the AMC Theaters NorthPark!

HOW: Starting Wednesday, November 26, MNS members can visit the membership desk in the MNS Science Building lobby and register to win* 1 of 110 family 4-packs of tickets. Limit 4 seats per family.

*Drawing will be held December 8. Winners will be notified via phone no later than December 8. Tickets mailed out directly. MNS employees not eligible.

Not an MNS Member?

Special Despereaux Membership offer**: Join between November 26 and December 7 and receive 15% off a Family or Family Plus membership

Regular Price	15% Discount Price
Family: $90.00	Family: $76.50
Family Plus: $150.00	Family Plus: $127.50

**Offer good on new and renewal memberships. Offer must be redeemed in person at the MNS membership desk in the MNS Science Building at 1318 South Second Avenue in Fair Park.

Click here to learn about MNS member benefits.

Quilt Mania II

Opened September 26

Texas Natural History Quilts: The Quilts of Carol Morrissey

MNS is pleased to exhibit the works of quilt artist Carol Morrissey. These quilts go beyond the borders of quilt stereotypes by combining nature, art, photography, and skill to show what a needle, thread and imagination can accomplish. This exhibit will be featured in MNS nature building through April 1.

September 26 - November 30

The MNS is proud to present Los Barrios: The Impact of the Mexican-American Barrios in Dallas, 1907-1970, presented in cooperation with The Dallas Mexican American Historical League. This special exhibit will display objects from the 6 major barrios in Dallas and will illustrate the role that the Mexican-American barrios had in developing the communities of Dallas.

3535 Grand Avenue and 1318 S. 2nd Avenue in Fair Park Phone: 214-428-5555 FAX: 214-428-4356 email: info@natureandscience.org

The Museum of Nature and Science is a non-profit educational organization supported, in part, by funds from the City of Dallas, Office of Cultural Affairs and the Texas Commission on the Arts.