Until a few decades ago, all of our knowledge of how planets are formed was based on observations of the Solar System and on the analysis of meteorites. Starting in the late 90s, a new generation of telescopes delivered unprecedented imaging capabilities allowing astronomers to discover planets around other stars and directly witness their formation.

Since then, astronomical observations have revolutionized our understanding of planet formation and have reshaped our view of the Solar System. In this presentation, the main theoretical and observational challenges involved in understanding the formation of planets will be introduced and the speaker will discuss how current and future astronomical observations will address them.

Event Date: 10 / 27 / 2022

Come and learn about NASA's plans for a new space station that will soon be in orbit around the Moon called Gateway. Although smaller than the International Space Station, Gateway will be the cornerstone of sustainable deep space human exploration and is an essential element of the infrastructure necessary for the execution of the NASA Artemis missions.

The Gateway Program is led out of Houston's NASA Johnson Space Center, and this lecture will highlight the innovative approaches to commercial and international partnerships that are making Gateway a reality.

Event Date: 4 / 14 / 2022

Spacewalking will be among the most important and highest risk activities during human missions to Mars. Heavier spacesuits, more frequent spacewalks, fewer options for responding to emergencies, and no real-time support from mission control are just a few of the factors that will make Mars walking more hazardous than any other spacewalks.

Event Date: 3/24/2022