PROGRAMS FOR 2020
The Langley Alumni Association (LAA) has interesting programs with excellent speakers every month for the General Meetings. The schedule for 2020 is being updated because of the COVID-19 Pandemic. The first two talks were given in the NACA Room as part of the Cafeteria at NASA Langley. The talks for July, August, and September, have or will be given by Zoom.
January 14 – Dr. Steve J. Scotti gave an excellent talk about “On-Orbit Repair of the Space Shuttle Leading Edge – A Case Study”.
February 11 – Dr. Dale Arney gave a well received talk about: “On-Orbit Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing: Building an Immortal Spaceship”.
July 14 – Christine Darden and Duncan McIver reviewed the history and status of the “The Langley Research Center NACA and NASA Hall of Honor”, an important partnership project between the Langley Alumni Association and NASA Langley. They described in some detail the accomplishments of the Honorees of the classes of 2015 and 2017, and the display in the NACA Room at NASA Langley. They also described considerations for future classes.” Darden and McIver are NASA retirees and serve on the Hall of Honors Committee.
August 11 – Ed Prior, gave an excellent review of “NASA Langley’s Explorer Satellite Program – Discoveries in the 60’s and 70’s Relevant Today”. He described the discoveries of the successful Langley Explorer Missions. Explorer 1 (1958) detected Van Allen’s Belt and Explorer 9, 19, 24, and 39 explored atomic oxygen, helium, and hydrogen layers at different altitudes over an entire 11-year solar cycle. Prior worked at NASA Langley for 40 years before retiring in 2005. He has a BS in Aeronautical Engineering from the U. of Illinois and a MS in Astronomy from U. VA.
Here is Ed Prior’s slide presentation. NASATalk by Ed Prior – Aug. 11
PROGRAMS FOR 2021 – Here is the list of presentations planned for 2021. We hope we will be able to meet in person but if not we can enjoy using Zoom.
The LAA is also been involved valuable and exciting activities with LaRC and the community. The following are some we have been involved in in the past.
- NACA Reunions II, VI, XII
- LaRC Open House Volunteers
- Day and Boat Trips in Hampton Roads
- Combined Federal Campaign
- Galaxy of Gifts – United Way and the ARC of the Peninsula
