Our home in space is embedded in the Sun’s extended atmosphere, subjecting the space environment around Earth to dynamic activity that originates in the solar corona. This layer of the solar atmosphere holds many unsolved mysteries that have fascinated humans for ages. We continue to search for answers well into the space age and NASA has a fleet of spacecraft dedicated to studying heliophysics: the Sun and its domain—the heliosphere, including its effects on Earth. Although we currently have a wealth of data and sophisticated modeling that continues to advance our understanding of the Sun-Earth system, we are entering into one of the most exciting eras of heliophysics observations. Solar Probe Plus, which will fly within four million miles of the solar surface, and Solar Orbiter are two synergistic space missions being developed to study the solar corona from a unique viewpoint. Dr. Gilbert will discuss the importance of obtaining data so close to the Sun and its implications for space weather research and forecasting.

Event Date: 3/23/2017

By the end of this year's space, travelers will board the first commercial rocketships and fly into orbit. Jeff Bezos of Amazon, Paul Allen of Microsoft, and others are stepping up to fly us into space. Elon Musk has said he will be putting humans on Mars by 2026. New entrepreneurial companies are also on the scene, with goals ranging from lunar landings to asteroid mining. The U.S., European and Chinese governments are planning lunar outposts. Conversely, some say the private sector cannot succeed in space, while others question the need for human space exploration at all. So what do billionaire-build rockets, millionaire space tourists and crazy schemes to strike it rich in space have to do with the future of the human race and the life of Earth? Why are they happening now? How did this all begin? What does any of it have to do with a spiritual quest to explore the Universe and find the meaning of life? Why is this possibly the most important human activity of all time? Why is it worth fighting for? And why is it important to you?

Event Date: 2/23/2017

Dr. Bonnie Dunbar will feature highlights of her five space flight missions, including scientific and engineering research with the Spacelab and conducting the first docking with the Russian Space Station, MIR. She will review how the lessons learned in developing large space exploration programs may frame our future for returning to the Moon and human exploration of Mars. She will also discuss the nevessart intersections and partnerships involved in human space exploration and the commercial development of space, particularly as it relates to Texas and the nation. How do we inspire future generations? Without an educated and trained workforce, the United States will not be able to conduct exploration on Earth of outside of it. Dunbar will recount het own inspiration on her path: becoming an engineer, helping design the Space Shuttle Thermal Projection System, working in NASA Mission Control as a Payload Officer, flying aboard the vehicle she helped to design, and being a professor of Aerospace Engineering at Texas A&M University.

Event Date: 2/2/2017