Local Science Fiction Fan Organization To Hold Space Program Symposium

Jan. 2, 2012 - PRLog -- Contact:
Duncan Cameron
USS Dejah Thoris-Hartselle, AL chapter of STARFLEET International
Phone: 256-227-4857
E-Mail: duncan@ncc1649ussdejahthoris.com
 
LOCAL SCIENCE FICTION FAN ORGANIZATION TO HOLD SPACE PROGRAM SYMPOSIUM
 
Hartselle, AL – January 2, 2012
 
On January 28, 2012, the USS Dejah Thoris, which is the Hartselle, Alabama-based chapter of STARFLEET International, will hold a symposium on the history and experiences of members of the U.S. space program. The symposium is entitled, “Our Finest Hour”, and will feature speakers who were an integral part of the space program during its birth and its heyday. Speakers will include William Snoddy and Stephanie Osborn. The Dejah Thoris is holding this symposium to give the public a chance to hear about being a part of America’s space program from people who were actually there, and to give the speakers a public forum to pass along their experiences and memories of the part they played in sending mankind into space. Other planned events include a tribute to fallen astronauts and a look at what the future of manned spaceflight may hold. The chapter is also holding the symposium as a recruiting platform to give space enthusiasts who may also be science fiction fans an opportunity to learn about and join STARFLEET International. The symposium will be held at 3:00pm in the Ministry Center of First United Methodist Church, located at 210 Hickory Street Southeast in Hartselle, Alabama.
 
WILLIAM SNODDY BIO
 
Bill Snoddy was a senior in physics at the University of Alabama when the Soviet Union launched Sputnik - the world's first artificial satellite - in October, 1957. After graduating a few months later, he joined the von Braun team in Huntsville and remained a member until his retirement 37 years later. He will discuss, from a personal point of view, the excitement and national concern generated by the Soviet’s space accomplishments and the steps taken by the U.S. to respond to the challenges represented by these achievements. Huntsville did its part by building and launching the "free world's" (as opposed to the communist world's) first satellite, Explorer I. Huntsville also built the rocket that launched Alan Shepard into a sub-orbital trajectory, making him America's first astronaut. Other significant accomplishments for the Huntsville team included building the propulsion system (Saturn V) that took men to the moon; building the Lunar Rover used in the Apollo missions; building, launching and managing the Skylab Space Station; building the propulsion for the Space Shuttle; building and managing the Spacelab(s) which flew many times in the Shuttle; building many satellites including the Hubble Space Telescope and the Chandra X-ray Observatory; and building key portions of the evolving International Space Station.

During his professional career Bill worked on the thermal design of the early satellites; Chief of the Astronomy and Solid State Physics Division; Chief of the Solar-Terrestrial Physics Division; Manager of the Skylab/ATM Data Analysis Program; a one year assignment to NASA Headquarters in Washington as Planner for Solar Terrestrial Physics and Manager of the Science and Applications Space Platform study activity - a job he continued upon his return to Huntsville (this concept lost out to the current International Space Station now in orbit); as Deputy Director of the MSFC Space Science Laboratory; Deputy Director of the Program Development Directorate (future projects office) and as MSFC lead in Space Commercialization. He retired in 1994 and has kept busy managing a family timber farm in Double Springs, Alabama.
 
STEPHANIE OSBORN BIO
 
Stephanie Osborn is a former payload flight controller, a veteran of over twenty years of working in the civilian space program, as well as various military space defense programs. She has worked on numerous Space Shuttle flights and the International Space Station, and counts the training of astronauts on her résumé. Of those astronauts she trained, one was Kalpana Chawla, a member of the crew lost in the Columbia disaster.

She holds graduate and undergraduate degrees in four sciences: Astronomy, Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics, and she is “fluent” in several more, including Geology and Anatomy. She obtained her various degrees from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, TN and Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN.

Stephanie is currently retired from space work. She now happily “passes it forward, ” teaching math and science via numerous media including radio, podcasting, and public speaking, as well as working with SIGMA, the science fiction think tank, while writing science fiction mysteries based on her knowledge, experience, and travels.

For more information on Stephanie, go to www.stephanie-osborn.com.
 
STARFLEET International Information
 
STARFLEET is the oldest continuously operating Star Trek Fan Organization in the world. Founded back in 1974, when there were only 79 original live-action Star Trek episodes and no movies yet, STARFLEET has grown over the years to thousands of members. We’re all about having fun, making friends, and keeping the ideals of Star Trek alive and healthy into the future.

For over 35 years, STARFLEET has provided Star Trek fans a way to meet each other, make friends, have fun, give back to their communities, and show that the dream of Gene Roddenberry can live long and prosper. On the local level, members can gather with other fans for a variety of enjoyable activities.

On the international level, STARFLEET offers our members a wealth of resources that you won’t find in any other Star Trek fan clubs. In addition to a great set of membership materials and our regularly-published newsletter, STARFLEET offers members the chance to get involved with STARFLEET Academy, the STARFLEET Marine Corps, the Department of Technical Services, and much, much more. We even have a group of academic monetary scholarships that are awarded to deserving STARFLEET members each year.

STARFLEET International is even in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s largest Star Trek fan organization.
 
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONTACT:
 
Duncan Cameron, Executive Officer, USS Dejah Thoris
Phone: 256-227-4857
E-mail: duncan@ncc1649ussdejahthoris.com

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About the Author
Stephanie Osborn is a former payload flight controller, a veteran of 20+ years of working in the civilian & military space programs. She holds degrees in 4 sciences & writes SF mysteries based on her knowledge, experience, & travels.